FEDERAL ELECTION

With the Federal election scheduled for the 3rd of May and Pre Poll Voting beginning on Tuesday, 22nd April, the Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA) has, over the past three-year term, expressed significant concerns regarding the Albanese Labor Government’s stance on several key issues.

It is important from the outset to state that AFTA maintains a strong politically non-partisan position. Our only aim is to support our members and advocate for the best outcomes for the recreational fishing industry. AFTA does not intend to influence voting decisions but strives to inform our members about the positions of major parties concerning their impacts or benefits to recreational fishing.

At the time of publishing this report, only the Coalition, Greens & One Nation have issued some level of policy on recreational fishing. Shooters, Farmers and Fishers have not updated their policy since the last election. Nothing has been published by Labor as yet. AFTA notes that there are still just over two weeks until the election, and the parties may publish their policies after voting has commenced on the 22nd April.

OFFSHORE WIND FARMS:

AFTA has expressed concerns regarding the Labor Government’s Offshore Windfarm plans, highlighting potential marine environmental impacts and the estimated 1.5-kilometre exclusion zones for recreational fishers. These structures could function as large Fish Attracting Devices (FAD), potentially disrupting traditional fishing grounds.

Minister for Climate Change & Energy, Chris Bowen, has consistently promoted Labor’s initiative to advance six approved Offshore Windfarm Zones. This initiative is supported by the Greens Party and the coastal-based Teal Independents.

Conversely, Coalition Leader Peter Dutton has stated his intention to cancel the Hunter, Illawarra, Bunbury, and Southern Ocean Offshore Wind Zones, citing concerns that “the wind farms would harm the landscape and disrupt the tourism and fishing industries.”

Opposition to Offshore Windfarms is not limited to the Federal Liberal/National Opposition. The South Australian Labor government also decided to reject the SA wind farm proposal due to its impact on fisheries. Additionally, in January 2025, an article in the AFR quoted then West Australian Energy Minister Reece Whitby expressing doubts about the suitability of offshore wind on the west coast after several developers abandoned plans for projects. He highlighted that Western Australia’s vast land availability and abundant onshore wind and solar resources made offshore wind technology more appropriate for the east coast.

One Nation has also consistently rejected Offshore Wind proposals since their inception.

In the event of a Coalition victory in this year’s election, only the Gippsland and Tasmania’s Bass Strait wind zones are expected to proceed. However, if a Labor Government or a Labor/Green minority Government succeeds, the Offshore Windfarm proposals will advance without any assurance of access into these zones for recreational fishing.

Supporting Offshore Wind:

Labor
Greens
Teals (some)

Opposing Offshore Wind:

Liberal/National Coalition
CLP NT
One Nation

MARINE PARKS:

Regarding Commonwealth Marine Parks, AFTA remains firmly opposed to any further expansions or exclusion zones.

On 13 February 2025, under the direction of the Minister for the Environment and Water, The Hon Tanya Plibersek, the new The Final South-east Marine Parks Network Management Plan 2025 was approved, which restricted access for recreational fishers in parts of Tasmania. One Nation has long pushed back Marine Park proposals and announced the rejection of WA South Coast Marine Park

Protection of Australia’s oceans is shaping up to be a federal election. The federal Labor government is promoting its expansion of the national marine park network and funding for research, while the Coalition is arguing it will better protect Australian waters from foreign fishing.

Supporting Marine Parks expansion:

Labor
Greens
Teals (some)

Opposing Marine Parks expansion:

Liberal/National Coalition
CLP NT
One Nation
Shooters, Farmers & Fishers

FUEL EXCISE CUTS:

Both the Coalition & One Nation have announced that they will halve the fuel excise for at least 12 months. This amounts to 25 cents per litre. This is good news for all recreational fishers as it reduces the cost to get to our favourite fishing spots and makes a day out boating more affordable. This is important to our industry as we face cost-of-living pressures.

Supporting Fuel Excise Cuts (25c per litre):

Liberal/National Coalition
CLP NT
One Nation

BIOSECURITY MATTERS:

The Commonwealth administers the Biosecurity Act 2015, which permits the importation of uncooked shellfish, including green prawns, into Australia. This importation route is responsible for introducing white spot infected seafood into the Australian market. The disease spreads through waterways when individuals use this more affordable seafood as bait or discard uncooked shellfish into the water.

While state governments impose varying degrees of restrictions on the interstate movement of raw shellfish under their respective Biosecurity Acts, implementing a federal ban on importation would be much more effective. Such a measure would immediately mitigate the spread of white spot disease among wild and farmed prawn stocks.

The consequences have been significant for commercial prawn fishers, aquaculture, and recreational fishers, as fishing bans are enacted and fresh & frozen bait become less accessible.

The Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA) has consistently advocated for the prohibition of imported uncooked prawns due to biosecurity concerns. If biosecurity laws can justify rejecting imported pork and beef from the USA and uncooked chicken meat from Asia, they should equally support banning the importation of uncooked crustaceans.

No political party has to date made a policy commitment to stopping the importation of uncooked seafood into Australia.

Election – Fishing Policy Pages

Labor:

Nothing listed as yet

Coalition:

https://www.liberal.org.au/policy/our-plan-to-back-australian-fisheries-and-forestry

One Nation:

https://www.onenation.org.au/fisheries

Shooters Farmers & Fishers:

https://www.shootersfishersandfarmers.org.au/federal_policies-new

Greens:

https://greens.org.au/policies/marine-and-coastal-areas-and-fisheries

Teals: