NSW Shooters and Fishers Party MLC Robert Brown has blasted the Keneally-led NSW government for reneging on a promise to support his Marine Parks Moratorium Bill – blaming the state Labor Government for its ties with the Greens for the snub.
“At a meeting today, the Premier confirmed our growing suspicion that the Government would renege on its promise to support our Marine Parks (Moratorium) Bill. This is after supporting the Bill in their reply in the Upper House debate,” Brown said.
“We had been pre-warned by the Greens’ hubris over the Bill’s “guaranteed failure”, so we weren’t surprised at the Premier’s back-flip”, said Brown.
The Shooters and Fishers Party leader said Premier Kristina Keneally had agreed in June to support a moratorium on any new marine parks.
“That was an undertaking she now seems not to recall,” Brown said.
In the wake of the marine parks snub, the NSW Shooters and Fishers Party has vowed to “declare war” on Labor at upcoming state election, due to be held in six months time.
Fisho contacted NSW Environment Minister Frank Sartor’s office yesterday for comment on the issue. A spokesperson confirmed that the NSW Government had chosen not to support the Marine Parks Moratorium Bill.
“The NSW Government is on record as saying our priorities at present are to improve the management of existing marine parks rather than establish new ones,” the spokesperson said.
As to why the NSW Government will not be supporting the Bill, the spokesperson told Fisho:
“The Government made a decision not to support the Marine Parks (Moratorium) Bill in its current form for a number of reasons:
- It pre-empts the recommendations of the Upper House inquiry into Recreational Fishing and Marine Protected Areas – scheduled to report November 25.
- The bill places too much uncertainty into the marine parks process including scheduled reviews which will take place during the period.
- There is concern the bill is likely to stop small amendments to marine parks like straightening lines so that people know boundaries.”
Also aggrieved by the State Government’s decision on the marine parks moratorium was ANSA NSW president Stan Konstantaras.
“NSW anglers are disappointed that the proposed moratorium on Marine Parks in NSW failed to get support in Parliament,” Konstantaras said.
“ANSA NSW felt that the moratorium was a sensible way of buying time to gather and broaden the science behind NSW marine parks and to properly assess the benefits and shortcomings involved with the process.
“Ultimately it was an each way bet. The science could have demonstrated a stronger case for marine park benefits and the need for more restrictive fishing zones. Conversely the research would have also allowed us to thoroughly look at the way each park is managed, the relevance and consistency of zones and the prospect of eliminating inconsistencies which currently lead to stakeholder confusion and unintentional non-compliance.”
The NSW state election will be held next March.
