Following the State Government’s decision to cut fisheries officers across the state from 73 to 36, including positions in East Gippsland, the Minister responsible has failed to answer basic questions on how this will impact both officer presence and response levels.
Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull, put the questions to the Minister after Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) itself conceded at least 100,000 recreational anglers each year are offending.
“VFA keeps telling us at every opportunity there are one million recreational anglers in the State and a 90 per cent compliance rate – so that means 100,000 anglers are not doing the right thing,” he said.
Mr Bull asked the Minister for Outdoor Recreation, Steve Dimopoulos: given the officer cuts from 73 to 36: What will be the reduction in the number of on-water hours of fisheries officers in Victoria as a result; and what was the number of patrol craft before the cuts in comparison to post the reduction in staff?
“Unfortunately, the Minister simply refused to answer either question,” Mr Bull said.
“In relation to the second, he stated there were 55 vessels prior to the restructure, but no number provided for post the changes.
“The responses simply included ridiculous statements like ‘we’re ensuring our structure reflects the evolving nature of the fisheries we manage’.
“It really is an insult to those anglers who are doing the right thing and leaves our fisheries officers short staffed when they are called on to enforce the laws and protect our fishery into the future.
“This is a government that has us heading to a $187 billion debt with interest repayments of $26 million per day (more than $1 million per hour) and is
scrambling at every turn to cut front line services and tax
us more.
“It all comes back to Labor not being able to manage money and Victorians paying the price. It really is as simple as that.”
