Greens preference deal threatens Territory fishing
A vote for Labor or the Greens is a vote to end commercial and recreational fishing in nearly one third of Australia’s territorial waters, Country Liberals Senator Nigel Scullion warned today.
The Greens recently announced a plan to ban fishing in 30% of Australia’s territorial waters by 2012 under the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas program.
“Territorians need to consider which parts of our coastline will be off-limits for fishing under a Labor Government, because the recently announced preference deal between Labor and the Greens virtually guarantees the Greens will get their way on the no-take zones from July next year,” Senator Scullion said.
“I have been attending public rallies in Queensland where fishermen have made their opposition to the marine park policy crystal clear, but there are many people who don’t realise a vote for Labor is a vote to drastically restrict fishing.
“Fishermen have been used as bait and the only way to ensure livelihoods are not destroyed and a favourite Territory pastime remains intact is to support the Coalition in the House of Representatives and the Senate.”
A Coalition Government will immediately suspend the marine bioregional planning process to ensure people are adequately consulted and sensible and balanced marine park boundaries and management plans can be developed.
