Sen Joyce said today, "After extensive negotiations in the Senate a committee has been organised. It is now up to fishing groups and those Queenslanders who enjoy the occupation of fishing to get organised to clearly spell out their concerns about the impending Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Bill. Senator Stephens from New South Wales gave a speech as expected which, in summary, basically says "here it comes and we're not going to change a thing.

“Queensland Labor Senators have been remarkably silent on your behalf. What else would you expect from Labor party Senators who just do what they're told by a centralists lower house executive?

“But the responsibility really does now lie with the people of Queensland, to whom this bill specifically refers in the first instance, to mount the case as to why the recreational right of fishing and the commercial right of fishing can be no further impinged upon as this bill would do.

“The Labor party has extolled the virtues of a 'Precautionary Principle' which is the out clause when they can't prove an environmental or economic reason as to why they should close further sections of the reef. They have also entered into the realm of creating a crime not so much out of an action but out of consideration of an action. In that, you only have to look like you might be going fishing in the wrong area to have committed a crime.

“As for the Labor lower house members who now occupy the majority of Great Barrier Reef seats, what have they said on your behalf? Nothing.


Ends