Steve Fielding (Victoria, Family First Party) Share this | Hansard source

I give notice that on the next sitting day, I shall move:

That the Senate:

(a)

Four years ago, more than 100 fishermen in Queensland were deemed criminals by the Federal Government for innocently dropping a fishing line in water which is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. These fishermen had a criminal conviction recorded against them and were fined $2500 each.

(b)

These fishermen are your ‘average Joes’. They’re recreational fishermen; granddads taking their kids fishing or group of mates in a ‘tinnie’. What they have done, usually through ignorance or a lack of navigation skills, is simply drop a line in the wrong place, which does not warrant a criminal conviction.

(c)

Two years ago the Federal Government admitted it was wrong to give criminal convictions and downgraded the offence to an infringement, with an $1100 fine and no criminal conviction. However, the more than 100 fishermen originally convicted still have a criminal conviction recorded against their name.

(d)

Having a criminal record can seriously damage a person’s life. You’re deemed in the eyes of the law to be a criminal which can make it impossible to get a job, insurance or a home loan. You can’t travel to certain countries and can’t get a licence for occupations like being a real estate agent or publican. Every government form requires you to declare if you have a criminal conviction.

The Senate calls on the Federal Government to fix this mess by making sure these fishermen are given a pardon and do not have the permanent stain of a criminal record to their names.