Sunfish Fraser Coast - Candidates Responses Detailed.

Please be aware the Sunfish Fraser Coast Has posted all information given from all candidates. Sunfish Fraser Coast recognises that not every candidate brought forward a detailed response.

Candidates Responses Below -

From the Office of Senator Ron Boswell - Fishing Brochure - Coalition

One Nation Response - " One Nation Opposes the closure of fishing areas as demanded by the greens.Sustainability through education. "

Independant Candidate Adrian Wone (Candidate for Hinkler) - "Dear Martin Thank for the opportunity to comment on our marine resource. For the past 40 years I have watched as our marine animals and their environments have been seriously eroded by the hand of man. There are 3 basic groups who have contributed to this degradation and I list them as agriculture, water harvesters and professional fishers; looming on the horizon is potentially the mining industry. I do not believe that recreational fishers in the present management mode is capable of modifying the marine environment. Everyone has a stake in preserving and repairing our marine resource. If I am elected as member for Hinkler I would build communication bridges between all affected groups and science and by consultation deliver a sustainable outcome for the marine environment. Adrian Wone Independent Candidate for Hinkler"

Paul Neville - Candidate for Hinkler LNP - "Paul Neville is the only candidate for Hinkler who will take immediate action to protect local fishers and the marine environment.
Mr Neville has ensured a Coalition Government will immediately suspend the marine bioregional planning process, and establish sensible and balanced marine park boundaries and management plans in full consultation with industry.
“The Marine Protected Areas will be based on science with all evidence of threats to marine biodiversity made available to all stakeholders in a fair and balanced consultation process,” he said.
“That’s because the Coalition wants to balance the needs of local fishing industries and communities with marine conservation.
“I’ve held meetings with local commercial and recreational fishers alike, and this is what they’ve been asking for from the Labor government, and it’s the very thing Labor has failed to do for them.”
Mr Neville said fishermen were very concerned about what Labor and the Greens had in store for the future of commercial and recreational fishing because of their secret preference deal.
“Labor has signalled that they want to shut down the fishing industry by failing to rule out large no-take zones within Marine Protected Areas. That would cost this region millions of dollars every year and countless local jobs.
“Fishers don’t operate in isolation, they spend their money in bait and tackle shops, in chandleries on boats’ maintenance, on fuel and ice and on charter fishing expeditions.
“Those dollars are very important to local businesses, and to lose a single job, or possibly business, because of Labor’s plans would be a backwards step for this region.”
Mr Neville will continue to work with recreational and commercial fishers alike to make sure their views are known, and alternatives are considered.
“The message is clear – the only way to stop Labor closing down the fishing industry is to change the Government.” "

" Dear Sir

The Rudd Government’s decision to place green zones within the Fraser Area for Further Assessment will be a harsh blow to Bundaberg’s economy.
It is said that for every dollar brought in by the commercial fishing sector, up to three times that flows in to local businesses.
Put simply, if fishers can’t bring in good catches, they can’t spend money on fuel, bait, supplies or staff. Their work will be scaled down and some may shut up shop entirely, while businesses that supply the fleet will lose a sizable chunk of their income.
That means their own employees could be laid off, or at the very least, will have fewer dollars to spend locally at shops and stores. When local shops and stores feel the pinch, they tend not to put on new staff or apprentices. And so the ‘trickle down’ effect hurts everyone.
Fishing ground closures could also hurt the local tourism industry. A big part of our allure is the guarantee of getting fresh, high quality seafood from pristine local waters, whether people get it from takeaway shops or restaurants or go out and catch it themselves. If the supply of fresh local seafood is limited, I suggest part of the region’s magnetism could go the same way.
We need also to remember that fishing in our area was already constrained by the East Coast Trawl Plan (33% reduction) and Barrier Reef Marine Park closures under the RAP. Further restrictions could affect local processing and exports. 
I am no environmental vandal. I believe in the sustainable management of our fisheries, but I also believe it should be done sensibly and in full consultation with the industry, with compensation on offer to all affected businesses.
At the end of the day, the flow-on effect of the government’s decision to rezone waters east of Fraser Island will most definitely impact on local communities at a time when the area can least withstand it.

Yours sincerely

Paul Neville
Federal Member for Hinkler "

Fishing Policy Link http://www.liberal.org.au/~/media/Files/Policies%20and%20Media/Regional/

Senator Richard Colbeck - Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Argiculture, Fisheries and Forestry- "

Coalition’s Real Action Plan for Fisheries

The Coalition has today unveiled its real action plan to support Australia's commercial and recreational fishing sectors.

The real action plan recognises the important role fishing plays to hundreds of coastal and river communities in bringing enjoyment to millions of Australians and to the national economy.

A Coalition Government will give greater representation to the fishing sector, increased investment in promoting our sustainable seafood industry, provide more funding for fisheries research and commit to resourcing the fight against illegal foreign fishing.

And we will bring the balance back to Labor's flawed marine park planning process. We will suspend the process, allow for it to be restructured and increase consultation with the fishing sector.

Labor has forgotten Australia's recreational and commercial fishing sectors.

Labor has taken for granted the massive social, economic and environmental benefits that fishing has to our nation.

The commercial fishing sector has a value of more than $2.1 billion, making it the sixth largest primary producing sector.

In addition, it is estimated that 3.5 million Australians participate in recreational fishing, contributing well over $3 billion a year to the economy."

The Coalition will (full copy of policy attached):

1. Appoint a Minister with direct responsibility for Fisheries

The Coalition will re-establish separate ministerial responsibilities for fisheries, giving greater focus and representation for Australia’s commercial and recreational fishing sectors.

2. Assist the fisheries industry to adapt to climate change

The Coalition will provide $5 million to assess the potential impact of changing ocean environments on the sustainability of fisheries and help individual businesses respond to this challenge.

3. Increase research and development for the fishing sector

The Coalition will increase matching contribution of $1 for every $1 raised by industry to $1.25. It will also fund grants of up to $50,000 for specialised research, mentoring or further study for scientists concerned with the fisheries sector.

4. Establish an Aquaculture Industry Development Fund

This $10 million fund will invest in industry or sector-wide projects that support the sustainable growth of aquaculture in Australia.

5. Promote a sustainable Australian seafood industry

The Coalition will provide $3 million to industry bodies to promote sustainable Australian seafood.

6. Consider the Hawke Review of the EPBC Act with specific focus on fisheries and sea issues

The Coalition will review the EPBC Act ensuring its suitability for marine issues.

7. Assist commercial and recreational organisations play a role in developing national maritime safety standards

The Coalition will provide up to $100,000 to assist relevant commercial and recreational organisations meet the costs of active participation in these deliberations.

8. Promote the environmental, health and social benefits of recreational fishing

The Coalition will provide $1.2 million for grants of up to $20,000 to recreational fishing clubs and organisations to promote the benefits of recreational fishing.

9. Conduct recreational fishing surveys every five years

The Coalition will collect data on the social and economic impact of recreational fishing as well as obtain catch data to help assess stock levels.

10. Form a Recreational Fishing Ministerial Advisory Council

The Coalition will form an Advisory Council comprising the Minister for Fisheries and the Minister for the Environment along with representatives of the recreational fishing sector.

11. Support a national peak body for recreational fishing and its participation in national consultations on the establishment of marine parks

The Coalition will provide $500,000 to a national peak body for recreational fishing and investigate longer term funding options.

12. Immediately put on hold the Marine Bioregional Planning process to allow for its restructure

The Coalition will immediately restructure the process to address concerns over Labor’s mismanagement of declaring Marine Protected Areas.

13. Provide a fair and balanced Displaced Effort Policy

The Coalition will place responsibility for the displacement policy with a Ministerial panel

jointly chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and Arts.

14. Base Marine Protected Areas on science

The Coalition will require peer reviewed scientific evidence of threats to marine biodiversity be made available to all stakeholders, including affected communities and industries, before any decision is made on future Marine Protected Areas (particularly any no-take zone).

15. Establish sensible and balanced Marine Park boundaries and develop management plans in consultation with industry

The Coalition will consult closely with those people and industries that use the marine environment, including the recreational and commercial fishing sectors, to determine Marine

Protected Area management plans in accordance with relevant legislation and other regulatory frameworks.

16. Commit to fighting illegal foreign fishing

The Coalition is committed to maintaining all resources currently devoted to patrolling

Australia’s fishing zones. "

Jenny Fitzgibbon - Candidate for Hinkler (Greens) -

Dear Mr Bellert.

Please find attached Greens' policy stance on the protection of
Australians' rights to fish.

Our intention is to enable future generations to enjoy fish for dinner.

Unless we start to negotiate with that in mind, fish stocks which are
seriously diminished by most scientific data available may collapse
beyond repair. We also intend to give the Great Barrier Reef the best
chance of remaining an internationally important tourist attraction
thereby supporting many small businesses along the coast.

The possibility of collapsing fish stocks must sadden your members'
hearts. I empathise with their dread of changes to current fishing
practices. The Greens policies reflect the fact that if we don't choose
to negotiate and change some aspects of those practices now, we will be
forced into it by deteriorating catches and an irreversibly degraded
marine environment.

I know that many of your members will be interested in our policies,
particularly as we are the ONLY party with a credible plan to tackle
climate change - the greatest threat to the health of the reef and the
commercial and recreational benefits we derive from it. No other party
is proposing a phase-out of the sorts of damaging agricultural chemicals
that are killing the sea-grass, changing the sex of fish that come into
contact with them and contaminating the waters around the reef.

We look forward to working with your members to achieve the necessary
protection.

Thank you for presenting the Greens' viewpoint.

If you need a summary of our policies with a word limit for printing in
your publications, please contact me on this email address.
To save space on your website, below are links to relevant
documents which will give your members a full understanding of the
policies we will be lobbying for in Parliament, especially of course
in the Senate.

Yours sincerely
Jenny Fitzgibbon
Greens candidate for HINKLER

http://qld.greens.org.au/media-releases/greens-only-party-with-credible-climate-action-plan-to-save-barrier-reef
http://greens.org.au/policies/environment/marine-and-coastal-areas

Great Barrier Reef Initiative - PDF Brochure.