Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

I would have normally thought that Senator O’Brien knew better but I think that he actually does not, and that is a very sad reflection on him. I have absolutely ruled out any ‘tackle tax’ or anything of that nature in relation to the recreational fishing sector.

If Senator O’Brien were genuinely concerned about the recreational fishing sector, he might be able to answer this question: which are the only governments that impose a tax on the recreational fishing sector? The state Labor governments, through fishing licences. If this gentleman opposite were genuine about his concern for the recreational fishing sector, he would be asking his state Labor colleagues to remove the tax that they actually do have and he would not seek to peddle misinformation about a policy that we do not have and have specifically ruled out. This is the sort of desperation which comes from an opposition that is bereft of policies and seeks to skate into government without any decent policies of its own. (Time expired)