SNAPPER FISHERY

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (15:39): I want to talk about snapper today and raise a few concerns that have been put to me by my community. In late August, I first had an email from Mr John Sandercock who, in addition to being a business operator in Ardrossan, is the President of the Progress Association there. He certainly recognises the importance that fishing per se, and recreational and professional fishing, plays in the economy of Yorke Peninsula. He was very concerned to have been advised of some draft plans which were out, with some level of consultation, which talked about an extension to the closed season.

I think it is fair to say that a high level of frustration exists amongst quite a few of us. I know that Adrian Pederick, the member for Hammond and shadow minister for fisheries, has attempted to have briefings with the minister and her staff. I know for sure that two dates were set for that, but both of them were cancelled. The first one I wanted to be part of, so it was very disappointing to hear that it had been cancelled. It was intended to be during a sitting week a fortnight ago. Since then, I have sought my own opportunity for a briefing, and basically have also been told no. They are not prepared to give you one until the draft plans are out there, which I find very frustrating. As someone who represents the community, I should have the opportunity to be briefed early and the chance therefore to make in informed input to it.

So, for local members and the shadow minister to be excluded creates a level of frustration that minister Gago needs to respect. I have read the answer to a question from the Hon. David Ridgway that she provided to the other place, and I can assure her that, no, it is not just a matter of trying to find a suitable date: it is a matter of being told it is not available yet. That is all really disappointing. I have raised that point, but now I want to talk about what the impact will be if there are significant changes to the economy of the area.

I am a frustrated fisher person, like many people. I would like to be a lot better than I am. I have great memories as a 20 year old going snapper fishing and catching two 15 pounders, like a double-header, on one line. That was just the best fishing day ever for me. I know how attractive snapper fishing is to the people who come to the Yorke Peninsula and the people who live on the peninsula. I also respect the need to preserve the fishery and the species.

I understand that the fishery has to be managed and that you have to ensure that regular estimates are being placed on the catch that is being taken from the area, to make sure that the fish species are there for many years going into the future and that it represents no threat at all. I understand that the minister has a responsibility to ensure that a review is undertaken, but I would urge the minister to ensure that consultation occurs.

My great frustration is that it is so late before the prime tourist season that we still do not know what the changes will be. Some people deliberately choose to go to Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent, to those areas, for their holidays because of the snapper fishing opportunities they provide. If they have their holidays booked—and charter boat fishers are very upset by this—and they suddenly have these booking opportunities taken away from them because the closed season has been extended, it is going to have significant impact upon the economy of the Peninsula.

I know that the local government authorities in the area are very concerned. The Yorke Peninsula council and the Copper Coast council and the Barunga West and Wakefield Regional Council have met collectively. They have asked for an opportunity to meet with the minister to make the minister appreciate their concerns from their perspective. The rec fishers in the area would like to see some changes made to some of the opportunities provided to the pro fishing network.

I am a person who tries to look at it in very balanced way, and I recognise the pro fishers have to have an opportunity to make a living and to provide a source to fishmongers and markets so that people can buy fresh fish if they cannot fish for themselves, but we have to make sure that we get the balance right.

So, I urge the minister to ensure that any changes have very wide consultation, that industry perspective is taken into account, that the regional impact statement is undertaken and considered by any person associated with this industry, and that we get a chance to make a decision that gives everybody some middle ground, so that there may have to be some compromise, but with the opportunity to move the economy forward, and also so that we do not find that there is a large number of very aggrieved fishers out there who suddenly have their rights taken away with little or no warning.