The election on August 24th concluded with the Country Liberal Party (CLP) achieving a decisive win. Congratulations to new Chief Minister, Lia Finocchiaro, and Deputy Leader & Recfishing Minister, Gerard Maley.
Gerard, an avid fisherman, supported the campaign to remove the 14 commercial gill nets in the Territory from its launch in February this year.
With newly elected officials, portfolio assignments are pending. AFTA extends gratitude to outgoing Minister Joel Bowden for his support in agreeing to remove the gill nets. This bipartisan effort allowed voters to focus on other critical issues during the election.
AFTA looks forward to collaborating with the Finocchiaro Government and NT Peak Body, AFANT. We will continue to emphasise the importance of the barramundi and threadfin salmon fisheries, which contribute over $270 million to the local economy and support more than 2,500 jobs.
In the Northern Territory, 33% of adults engage in recreational fishing, well above the national average of 21.4%. Participation rates are notably higher among women (33% vs. 17.8% nationally) and young adults under 35 (43.2% vs. 23.2% nationally). (Source: https://www.frdc.com.au/sites/default/files/2023-07/northern_territory_rec_fishing_survey_-_web.pdf) This is vital for our industry’s sustainable future.
The NT recreational fishing trade includes 22 tackle stores, 2 BCF stores, 2 Anaconda stores, one major manufacturer, four wholesalers, various service stations, holiday parks, 4 KMART, 2 Big W outlets, and 55 charter operators.
AFTA thanks all our members for driving positive outcomes for our industry.
