SHOOTERS Fishers and Farmers Party’s Mark Banasiak MLC has labelled today’s blue groper ban as misguided and a complete betrayal by the Minister and the department.
It is understood that news of the impending updated law was pre-emptively leaked by departmental officers, spruiking and boasting the changes around fishing and tackle shops. One member of the public was told by a man in uniform that the deal (to create new laws) was as good as done.
“There has been zero communication with fishers, zero consultation with industry stakeholders and zero with the advisory groups. There are over 390,000 recreational fishing license holders in NSW, and every single one of those people should feel betrayed by the minister’s office and the department for the way this information has circled the public domain,” Banasiak said.
Minister Moriarty is due to appear before Banasiak’s Budget Estimates committee on Wednesday 21st February, where according to the Banasiak, theminister will be made to explain the total lack of respect shown by her and the department towards the recreational fishing community.
SFF has been advocating for an audit of the recreational fishing trust for some time now.
“Why we should we pay upwards of half a million in salaries from our recreational license fees, to support access officers who appear to be actively conspiring to take away access not improve it,” said Banasiak.
Banasiak said recreational fishers are tired of the major parties using them as political footballs and a department not working in their best interest.
“It’s time for a change, we will be pushing forward with our bill to create a Statutory Authority for the recreational fishing sector, as well as a dedicated minister for fisheries that genuinely has the interest of fishers at heart,” he said.