The State Government is cutting fisheries officers at the same time it has acknowledged there are around 100,000 Victorian anglers not abiding by the State’s fishing laws.
Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said it was contradictory the Government acknowledged the level of fishers doing the wrong thing, at the same time it reduces enforcement effort in cutting $9.6 million from the Fisheries Budget.
“We regularly hear the Government and Victoria Fisheries Authority stating there are one million recreational anglers in the state. Then, in response to a question I asked the Minister, he acknowledged “there is a 90 per cent compliance rate with our fishing rules and regulations”.
“This is an admission 10 per cent, or 100,000 anglers, are not currently abiding by the rules and regulations. This will only increase with less enforcement as the presence of these officers is no doubt what provides a deterrent to many,” he said.
Mr Bull also asked a number of questions the Minister simply refused to answer and this included:
– The Department’s website states fisheries officers also enforce laws pertaining to littering, boating safety, wildlife protections, appropriate campfire use and other areas as well. Which agency will have the additional staff to ensure no reduction in monitoring of these important areas?
– Given the commitment the overarching investigatory agency will grow, what was the staffing level of the Special Investigations Group prior to the restructure, and what will be the staffing level of the re-branded Major Fisheries Crime Unit?
– What will be the additional expertise brought into the Major Fisheries Crime Unit the media comments referred to, that did not exist in the Special Investigations Group.
– When Victoria’s Marine Parks system was established in 2002, the Government provided a commitment for increased compliance and oversight. Fisheries officers are at the forefront of this oversight. How many fisheries officers were employed in 2003, 12 months after Marine Parks were introduced
“No responses were given, all we received was a generic answer to these specific questions that quoted government propaganda and data not related to Fisheries,” Mr Bull said.
“I have asked the Speaker to review the responses relating to the above questions and requested they be returned to the Minister for an answer that at least relates to the questions asked.
“I will continue my push to have these positions reinstated at both Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota.”
