Qld Government axes investment warnings on commercial fishing sector

The LNP state government says it is cutting ‘red tape’ on more than 250 commercial fisheries across the Wide Bay in a move it calls a boost for the industry.

MP Stephen Bennett has backed Queensland LNP’s axing of commercial fishing investment warnings.

The LNP state government has removed investment warnings blanketing more than 250 Wide Bay commercial fisheries for more than a decade, saying Labor was “suffocating” the industry with them.

The warnings, attached to all Queensland commercial fisheries since 2014, advised potential investors regulatory changes were possible and could impact the industry’s financial viability.

In a media release announcing the warnings’ repeal the LNP government claimed Labor had stunted industry growth throughout their latest leadership stint of almost 10 years.

Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Thomas Smith was contacted for comment, and his office declined.

Burnett MP Stephen Bennett said in the media release commercial fishing “was suffocating under Labor’s investment warnings”.

“It was red tape for red tape’s sake,” Mr Bennett said.

The latest warning placed on Queensland’s commercial fisheries was in March 2014 by the LNP’s then-Queensland Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry John McVeigh, but Minister for Primary Industries and Gympie MP Tony Perrett said this was intended as a temporary measure.

The LNP state government has removed investment warnings blanketing more than 250 Wide Bay commercial fisheries for more than decade saying Labor was “suffocating” the industry with them. (From left: State MPs Donna Kirkland and Nigel Hutton, Queensland Seafood Industry Association CEO David Bobberman and Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett.)

According to a 2014 review by independent consultancy MRAG Asia Pacific, the warnings were placed during an extensive effort to “modernise and simplify fisheries management”, which involved consultation with stakeholders and fisheries.

The review noted numerous meetings around the state where general concerns about investment warnings were voiced.

“The former government had a decade to remove this warning and support industry, and they didn’t,” Mr Perrett said.

The state’s commercial fishing sector contributes $354 million annually to the economy, and Queensland LNP claimed the warnings’ removal would shore up investor security.

“I make no apology for taking action to support Queensland fishing communities and calling out Labor’s lack of support for commercial fishers,” Mr Perrett said.

“There are over 250 commercial fishing businesses in the Wide Bay and for years they have been calling for common sense changes — today they are finally being heard,” Mr Bennett said in the release.

“Locally, this is a $34 million dollar a year industry.