UPDATE: 2nd May, 2022
The Federal election is to be held on the 21st May, with Pre-Poll voting commencing on the 9th May. This will be the first of weekly updates on the election.
As you would be aware, AFTA, in partnership with the SIA, BIA & ARFF wrote to all political parties, (click here to read) on the matter of the management of the Commonwealth Marine Parks Plan requesting their policy for the next term of government.
At the present time we have both the Government (Liberal/National Party) and Opposition (Labor) equally ruling out changes to the Commonwealth Marine Parks Plan subject to Statutory Review process required under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The question we need answered now is, when does the Statutory Review process commence?
In addition AFTA, as a member of the ARFF supported the ARFF Manifesto which was also submitted to all political parties.
Politicians need to clearly understand the impacts of their policies upon Fishers, both Commercial & Recreational.
It is important to note that AFTA is a non-partisan association; it is you, our members who will individually decide which political party has the best interests of recreational fishers, and therefore your business at heart. AFTA will provide the information as presented by political parties, without amendment, for our members to be informed.
I would also encourage all AFTA members and Fishers to engage with your local member, I offer the AFTA Action Agenda as a guide.
Responses Received or Sourced to date
AFTA has so far received/sourced responses from:
- Liberal/National Party; click here
“We are also committed to maintaining our robust Australian Marine Park network in its current form, to provide certainty to our fishers”
The PM has categorically stated the Coalition’s position on fishing in this video; watch here.
- Australian Labor Party; click here
A response from Josh Wilson MP, Shadow Assistant Minister for the Environment (read here) states in part …
Labor acknowledges the vital role you played in working with us in government to design the national marine park network. This was a remarkable achievement of which we can all be proud. While in the lead-up to the 2019 election we believed there was scope to consider adjustments to marine park zoning, we accept that since that time the network has been delivered in a settled form. We agree that certainty in park management is critical and so we don’t intend to revisit that matter outside of the statutory review processes.
- Shooters, Fishers & Farmers Party from their website:
“oppose unwarranted efforts on banning recreational fishing within Commonwealth marine reserves” …. “Oppose the creation or expansion of any marine park networks” and support the “expand recreational fishing opportunities within Commonwealth waters”.
Didn’t address the question, as he was too busy to write “long-winded policy statements that provide much gloss and little substance.”
We just wanted a Yes or No answer!
Read here
No response has been received as yet from these parties, and nothing specific on their websites at the time of writing:
Political Policy Response Analysis
Liberal/National
The Coalition announced (23/4/22): “We are also committed to maintaining our robust Australian Marine Park network in its current form, to provide certainty to our fishers”. This was a mainstay of the AFTA/SIA/BIA/ARFF political campaign; we are appreciative of the announcement.
In addition, the Coalition has committed $20m to a Recreational Fishing & Camping Facilities Program to be administered by State Government and delivered through local government.
It is somewhat disappointing that for a recreational fishing industry of over 5 million participants contributing in excess of $1.8billion and the boating economy, which generates a reported national turnover in excess of $8.8 billion, this is less than $4.00 per participant.
On the Small Business front, it is good to see an acknowledgement of the costs involved in running a business and employing people. AFTA welcome the extension of the Instant Asset Write Off to 30 June 2023, as well as the unincorporated business tax offset increase. The additional 20% bonus deduction for investing in new technology will benefit AFTA members.
Labor
Fishers were concerned that Labor would revert to the Tony Burke Marine Parks policy announcement in 2018 at the Labor National Convention in Adelaide?
Their 2022 election policy page stated:
“For close to a decade, the Morrison Government have …. removed the largest area of conservation from protection (marine parks).
However, on the 29th April, we received a letter from a response from Josh Wilson MP, Shadow Assistant Minister for the Environment, states in part …
Labor acknowledges the vital role you played in working with us in government to design the national marine park network. This was a remarkable achievement of which we can all be proud. While in the lead-up to the 2019 election we believed there was scope to consider adjustments to marine park zoning, we accept that since that time the network has been delivered in a settled form. We agree that certainty in park management is critical and so we don’t intend to revisit that matter outside of the statutory review processes.
The only question to be resolved is “what is the statutory review process”? We will provide the benefit of the doubt whilst we further examine the process.
Whilst we are yet to receive the Labor Policy on Fishing, AFTA does welcome the Labor’s Small Business commitment to:
“reduce small business transaction costs at the point of payment with a clear timeline for implementing least cost routing or similar. Small businesses are disproportionately impacted by higher transaction fees that eat into profits – around $804 million a year” and to: drive a genuine collaboration with small businesses and government to reduce the time small businesses spend doing taxes, cut paperwork and target support. Eight out of 10 small businesses find government regulation overly complex. click here to read
Shooters Fishers & Farmers Party
SFF “oppose unwarranted efforts on banning recreational fishing within Commonwealth marine reserves” …. “Oppose the creation or expansion of any marine park networks” and support “expand recreational fishing opportunities within Commonwealth waters”.
Fishing is one of Australia’s most popular recreational activities. It brings enormous economic, cultural and social benefits. Fishers have increasingly become victims of green government and bureaucracy gone mad, while true facts and statistics are repeatedly ignored. Money generated from licensing fees continues to be poorly spent. We believe sustainable and viable recreational and commercial fishing can exist and expand.
We value recreational and commercial fishers for their contribution to our society, culture and economy. We support the right of Australians to catch and purchase high-quality Australian seafood
Read the full SFF Fishing Policy.
Katter’s Australian Party
AFTA was rightfully disappointed in the response from Bob Katter MP where he took the time to write an email about why he didn’t have the time to simply answer the question?? Do you support maintaining the current Marine Parks Plan?
We were not looking for “long-winded policy statements that provide much gloss and little substance”; just a simple “Yes” or “No “ would have done.
One Nation
Nothing specifically stated for Fishing or Small Business to date.
Liberal Democrats
Nothing specifically stated for Fishing or our Small Businesses to date.
Australian Greens
Nothing specifically stated for Fishing or Small Business to date.
The Electoral Pendulum
The electoral pendulum is based on the members results from the 2019 election. This percentage margin can be affected by a variety of events and actions such as members retiring, promises being broken, reduced work ethic or electorate engagement to name but a few.
There are on average 115,000 constituents in each seat.
The Fishing Focus:
The current standing on the Tally Room Electorate Pendulum is that there are 16 Liberals & 19 ALP seats at a margin of 5% or under. Also, of significance in this election is that there are 6 Labor members (3 under 6%) and 11 Liberals/ Nationals (4 under 6%) members retiring.
With the above in mind the fishing information campaign will be predominantly focusing on:
NSW: (16 seats)
6 seats in the greater Sydney basin, Wentworth (NSW) (Eastern Suburbs), Reid (NSW) (Inner West), Parramatta (NSW), Greenway (NSW) (Outer Western Suburbs) Lindsay (NSW) (Penrith) Macquarie (NSW) (Blue Mountains), 2 seats on the Central Coast Dobell (NSW), Robertson (NSW), & 3 in the Hunter region: Hunter (NSW), Shortland (NSW) & Paterson (NSW) and & plus Richmond (NSW) (North Coast NSW), Eden-Monaro (NSW) (South Eastern NSW) & Gilmore (NSW) (South East Coast),
Plus retiring members seats of Bennelong (NSW) (Northern Sydney) and Hughes (NSW) (Southern Sydney).
QLD: (11 seats)
Brisbane area: Lilley (QLD), Moreton (QLD), Griffith (QLD), Dickson (QLD), Brisbane (QLD) plus Longman (QLD) (Sunshine Coast), Blair (QLD) (Ipswich region) Leichhardt (QLD) (focused on Cairns).
Plus retiring member seats of Bowman (QLD) (Brisbane area) Flynn (QLD) (Gladstone/Bundaberg region) and Dawson (QLD) (Townsville/Mackay regions)
Victoria: (7 seats)
Melbourne area Higgins (VIC) (Inner South East) Casey (VIC) (Eastern fringe of Melbourne), Deakin (VIC) (Eastern suburbs) Chisholm (VIC) (Eastern suburbs), Dunkley (VIC) (South-Eastern Melbourne) plus Corangamite (VIC) (Geelong region).
Plus retiring member seat of Flinders (VIC) (Mornington Peninsula)
SA: (1 seat)
Boothby (SA) in the southern Adelaide district.
WA: (4 seats)
Greater Perth Region, Cowan (WA) (Northern Suburbs), Perth (WA) (Central and north eastern Perth), Swan (WA) (inner south of Perth), including retiring member seat of Pearce (WA) (Northern Suburbs)
Tas: (3 seats)
2 seats, Bass (TAS) (North East), Braddon (TAS) (North West) of Tasmania plus Franklin (TAS) in which the Shadow Minister, Julie Collins is the member.
NT: (2 seats)
The seats of Solomon (NT) and retiring member seat of Lingiari (NT) in the greater Darwin area.
We must ensure our information campaign helps offset the “Teal” or what is known as the “Doctors Wives” voters remembering that these are very different to the “Soccer Mum” voters.
Good luck to all, and as long as your policy supports fishing for the future you have nothing to fear from fishers.
Click here to read AFTA’s Keeping You Updated Week Two; released on the 9th of May, 2022.