Dimopoulos and VFA spend big on sponsorships: But cut fisheries jobs

Victorian Fisheries Authority and the state government are throwing money at sponsorships, while gutting fisheries staff.

Victorian Fisheries Authority chief executive Travis Dowling is cutting fisheries staff, while spending big on event sponsorships. PICTURE: ZOE PHILLIPS

Outdoor Recreation Minister Steve Dimopoulos and the Victorian Fisheries Authority are pouring funds into promotional events while dumping 33 fisheries inspectors position across the state to find budget savings.

Mr Dimopoulos has doubled funding for this October’s Melbourne boat show to $100,000, while industry sources say the VFA has spent $330,000 on Hooked on Fishing events at Portland, Lakes Entrance and Bellarine, including $16,000 on a rock band.

The VFA has also sponsored the Australian Fishing Trade Association’s tackle show’s industry gala dinner and awards night at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre for an undisclosed amount, plus local sponsorship of the Port Campbell Crayfest, Sea Days Corner Inlet, Tidal Seafood and Mallacoota Wild Harvest Festivals.

Stakeholders say VFA chief executive Travis Dowling and a select group of staff also attend the Queensland event.

Australian Fishing Trade Association Victorian director Billy Parsons (left) and national chair Bob Baldwin (right) met Parliamentary Secretary for Outdoor Recreation Luba Grigorovitch (centre) on April 3 to confirm the Victorian Government’s sponsorship of the AFTA Gold Coast gala dinner & awards night.

At the same time the VFA is closing its Braeside and Altona stations and shedding 33 of its 69 frontline fisheries officers, leaving 36 to patrol 2512kms of coastline, 85,000km of rivers and creeks, plus vast areas of open ocean.

The staff cuts have prompted widespread community anger, since they were announced earlier this year, with recreational fishing group VRFish, the Seafood Industry Victoria and Victorian National Parks Association condemning the move.

Former VFA chief investigator Murray Donaldson said it was appalling that as jobs were being cut the government was throwing money at sponsorships and promotional events.

“If they’re (government) looking to cut costs, they ought to look at these sponsorships,” Mr Donaldson said. “I don’t think self-promotion is their role.”

Mr Dowling defended the sponsorships: “The VFA proudly hosts community events to get more people into fishing, building community stewardship and promoting fresh, Victorian seafood.

“We also proudly support the Australian Fishing Trade Association and their commitment to grow fishing in Victoria and Australia.”

But former Victorian police commissioner Kel Glare, who now chairs the Community Advocacy Alliance, has launched a petition to parliament calling for an inquiry into the VFA and its restructure.

The petition states the staff cutbacks in the pursuit of $9.4m in savings would “inevitably compromise the state’s ability to:

ENFORCE fishing regulations and protect its iconic marine life from criminals, along with the sustainability of Victoria’s immensely valuable commercial and recreational fisheries;

PREVENT significant numbers of drownings by undertaking regular and widespread marine safety inspections;

DEPLOY sufficient marine equipment, vessels and expert personnel as needed in accordance with the State Emergency Management Plan;

PREVENT illegal or antisocial behaviour on crown land river frontage camping locations by providing a visible enforcement presence”.

So far 5579 people have signed the petition, which closes on July 31.

Meanwhile the VFA has tried to stifle debate on the cutbacks by removing the ability of the public to comment on its facebook page posts, which all state “Victorian Fisheries Authority limited who can comment on this post”.

https://www.facebook.com/VictorianFisheries/