Convictions against 324 people caught fishing in a Green Zone of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park will be dropped, freeing them from the burden of a criminal record. Senator Barnaby Joyce, the Leader of The Nationals in the Senate, has been championing the cause of Queenslanders caught in the net of dangerously ambiguous legislation.

The Federal Government recognised the failings of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 (GBRMPA) after Senator Joyce and his Coalition colleagues raised the issue in August. The House of Representatives this week voted to support an amendment sponsored by Senator Ron Boswell and Senator Ian MacDonald that will see the convictions recorded as “spent”, effectively overturning the convictions given to anyone who received a fine of $5000 or less prior to December 2006.

While Senator Joyce’s amendments to the definition of fishing were not successful, they had the intended consequence of pushing the Government to reconsider the onerous definition that included searching for, or taking, fish, attempting to search for, or take, fish and engaging in any other activities that can reasonably be expected to result in the locating, or taking, of fish.

“By doing this we have achieved some degree of transparency to this dangerously ambiguous area of legislation,” Senator Joyce said. “Federal Coalition amendments that were successful will see the removal of criminal convictions against 324 fishermen who have been targeted for fishing in a Green Zone prior to 14 December 2006.”

This is an issue that Senator Joyce has tackled face on since this legislation was first introduced into the Senate in August. He has received tremendous support from the Queensland Fishing industry and many recreational fishermen who have contacted his office with their stories of family fishing trips ending in fines and convictions.

“We have been able to deliver some protection to the rights and lifestyle of Queenslanders,” Senator Joyce said. “More needs to be done and the Coalition will continue to fight tirelessly for the inherent right to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef without threat or uncertainty of the ramifications. Recreational fishing is a great contributor to the economy of North Queensland and it is a tradition that should not be hampered by onerous legislation.”