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  • Gone Fishing: Labor's Budget Fails Fisheries

    16/05/11

    This year’s Federal Budget contains nothing but uncertainty for Australia’s fishing industry, Coalition fisheries spokesman Richard Colbeck said.

    “There are no initiatives for fisheries in the 2011-12 Federal Budget,” Senator Colbeck said.

    “The fishing industry won’t even know how Labor’s carbon tax will affect business bottom lines because the Government refused to include the figures.

    “Fuel and power are a significant input costs for fishing businesses and Labor’s carbon tax is guaranteed to push up these expenses.

    “On a fishing vessel, for example, fuel can account for between 10-40 per cent of running costs depending on the type of activity undertaken.

    “Labor is hiding the carbon tax details from parliamentary scrutiny, and at the same time hiding the true costs that will be imposed on every fishing business, large or small, around Australia.

    “The Fisheries portfolio lacked vision and leadership under the previous minister Tony Burke and the Budget confirms this industry – valued in excess of $2 billion - is not on Labor’s radar.

    “Labor has let a number of programs lapse without replacement and there is no new investment flagged for fisheries in this year’s budget, or in the forward estimates.

    “There was nearly $30 million invested in programs to support the industry over the last three years, but in the three years ahead there is nothing.

    “Labor couldn’t even be bothered to develop a dedicated Fisheries policy during last year’s election campaign – a clear signal of disinterest.

    “Labor’s biggest contribution to fisheries so far has been to bungle the Marine Bioregional Plans process, leaving fishing communities waiting months to see even one of the draft maps for the four marine reserve networks proposed.

    “Unlike Labor, the Coalition worked with industry last year to develop a national policy that would foster viable and sustainable fisheries and we will continue to consult with and respond to the needs of this important industry,” Senator Colbeck said.
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Richard Colbeck

Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation, Industry, and Science. Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry.

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