93% of Australians want the federal government to uphold its election promise on trophy hunting import bans

93% of Australians polled in a new YouGov national survey commissioned by Humane World for Animals Australia think that the Albanese Government should be delivering on its election promise to expand the nation’s list of species that cannot be imported as hunting trophies.

At the May 2025 federal election, the Albanese Government promised to add 20 species, including bears, giraffes, zebras, hippos, wolves, and polar bears to the list of banned animal trophy imports, which would add to existing bans on lions, elephants and rhinoceros. But the promised extension has not yet been implemented. The survey also revealed opposition (91%) to the practice of trophy hunting across all demographic groups.

Humane World for Animals Australia’s Campaigns Director, Nicola Beynon said the results speak to Australians’ disdain for trophy hunting.

“These numbers are crystal clear: Australians find trophy hunting grotesque and want no part of it,” said Ms Beynon. “Australians are demanding Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt and the Albanese Government finally fulfil their election promise and ban the import of trophies from these iconic and threatened species.

“Australians have made it plain as day that animal trophies have no place in this country—we want to see wildlife living in natural environments, not hung on a wall. Every day that Murray Watt fails to act on this promise, more animals suffer and more Australians become impatient with the lack of action on this issue.”

Gabriel Fava, Senior Policy advisor for the Born Free Foundation said: “Trophy hunting is a cruel relic of a colonial era that results in intense animal suffering and disruption of wildlife populations, while contributing little to local economies or wildlife conservation. We strongly urge the Australian government to further distance itself from the practice without delay”.

Key polling results:

• 91% of Australians oppose trophy hunting.
• 72% strongly oppose trophy hunting.
• 93% believe the Australian Government should deliver on its commitment to ban trophy hunting imports from a further 20 species.

Humane World for Animals Australia and Born Free Foundation are calling on Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt and the Albanese Government to prioritise the regulations needed to implement the promised ban and ensure Australia is no longer a destination for animal trophies.

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Media Contact: Sam Edmonds: 0436 302 272; sedmonds@humaneworld.org