Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing) Share this | Hansard source

Summertime in Australia is synonymous with eating fresh seafood, particularly at Christmastime. It's a normal routine for dozens of eager seafood consumers to wait for hours at their local fishmonger for freshly caught seafood. In fact, it's one of the things my family particularly enjoys around Christmastime. The bountiful seafood caught off the Capricornia coast is always appreciated on a warm Queensland day.

Our country is surrounded by ocean and boasts an amazing supply of fresh fish and crustaceans. With the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing 80 per cent of Australian population living within 50 kilometres of the coast, is it any wonder we consume seafood in the hundreds of tonnes? In the 2020-21 period, Australians consumed an enormous 365,000 tonnes of seafood, equating to almost 14 kilograms for every person. This seafood is all caught in a highly sustainable and environmentally responsible way by hardworking and diligent fishers. The industry in Australia supports 17,000 people with direct employment in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics has reported that in the 2020-21 period, of the 17,000 people working in fisheries, 10,000 were employed in the fishing and trapping sector. It is projected that these men and women will contribute an astonishing $3.63 billion towards our economy in the 2022-23 period. Not only are our fishers creating sustainable methods in our waters but their world-class fishing practices have paved the way for other countries to model their fishing practices to ensure continued fish-level sustainability, ongoing employment and economic strength.

Our fishers work and live in some of the most unique natural environments on this planet. They are the custodians of this land and water, so I understand the importance of looking after our waterways and oceans not only out of economic interest but also for future generations to enjoy. Fishers fully understand the need to care for the waters which provide for them. The survival of our fish stock underpins their livelihoods and the next generation of fishers, yet this Labor government is playing this industry for fools. Many fishers have been feeding our nation fresh seafood for generations. Now they are being attacked by this government through a series of decisions which are solely based on winning the votes of the inner city. This government is making decisions which will impact not only fishers and their ability to work but also the consumer, by driving up the cost of their Friday night fish and chips. The futures of at least 100 fishing families and their employees are on the line, with part of these changes to include banning the use of gillnets. However, this isn't the only change to impact our fishers. State Labor governments are also adding salt to their wounds by introducing new quotas and bans on catches of a wide range of fish.

What makes the decision by this government to ban gillnets even harder to swallow is the completely inadequate consultation with fishers in the industry. It is incomprehensible that a government could make a policy decision which would impact an industry so greatly and not consult the organisations who are the voice for the fishing sector. Clint Waldon, a third-generation fisher near Marlborough in Central Queensland, said the announcement of a gillnet fishing ban will mean he won't be able to earn a living anymore. Mr Waldon is quoted in the ABC News, stating his business will be 'rendered completely useless' by the gillnet ban. His 80-year-old family business is on the brink of collapse because of Labor's ideological policies. The federal minister for fisheries, however, is missing in action. The minister is claiming these issues do not fall under his portfolio responsibilities and has no intention of becoming involved.

Industry experts such as the Queensland Seafood Industry Association have said the bans are unnecessary, with their executive officer stating that if this government had come to the industry and provided key performance indicators, fishers would've been able to easily meet those requirements. Yet this government has forged ahead with an agenda to appease their inner-city voters. But those living in these cities will be forced to eat seafood imported from other countries, rather than enjoy locally caught seafood, which leaves me incredulous, as our oceans are teeming with seafood. In the past year with Labor at the wheel, Australians have seen their everyday expenses on the rise. The cost of their grocery bills is up by 8.2 per cent in just 12 months. The decision to place a gillnet ban and other quota restrictions will drive up the price of fish for consumers, adding to the pain on the hip pockets of Australians.

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