Recreational Fishers

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (15:09): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the house on how the state government is fulfilling an election commitment to reform the recreational fishing sector?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:09): Yes, I certainly can. I thank the member for Colton for his very important question. I'm sure he graces the Henley jetty occasionally to catch a fish, just like I did as a young fella living down at Henley Beach.

It is important that this government uphold an election commitment and recognise the communication that has been missing between the 277,000 recreational fishers and government over a long period of time. That election commitment will mean that we are about to establish the minister's recreational fishing advisory council. The South Australian rec fishers will have the chance to get involved with the creation of the minister's rec fishing advisory council.

This is a first of its kind in Australia. It is the first opportunity that recreational fishers have had to vote and it's also the first time that they have been able to be nominated by a fishing foe to be part of that advisory council. It's an outstanding exercise that is about to be undertaken. This afternoon, I announced that on Monday 17 December nominations open for the advisory council. They close on 11 February 2019.

Voting for candidates is from 18 February 2019 until 18 March 2019 and I have already had very positive feedback both on social media as well as my office being contacted by those rec fishers. So now is the chance for every rec fisher in the state to be involved, get amongst it and make sure they have their voice heard. For too long, we have had a government that picked winners, have had their advice from a small group of people who have not truly represented the majority of rec fishers here in South Australia.

As I said, whether you take a boat, whether you fish off the beach or the jetty, as I am sure the member for Colton has, or throw a line into the mighty Murray, it's an opportunity and I encourage every fisher to consider putting their hand up, making sure that the five positions available for the council are filled by those people who feel passionately about the thing that they love to do, and that is to catch fish. We want to diversify the voices to provide feedback and advice to the government on those rec fishing issues.

The council will consist of eight members: one member from each of the three main representative bodies—RecFish SA, Fishing SA and the South Australian Fishing Alliance—and there will be five individuals directly elected by the South Australian recreational fishing community. As I said, this is a first of its kind in the country and it's an outstanding ability for the rec fishers now to stand up and be heard, to have a truly representative voice.

The minister's recreation fishing advisory council will provide that feedback. It will give the rec fishing sector the understanding and the ability to develop issues and opportunities on those big picture policy initiatives. To nominate, they can vote at www.yoursay.sa.gov.au/fishing. As a government and as a minister, I have and will continue to listen to the 277,000 rec fishers here in South Australia. They have been taken for granted for too long. They now have the opportunity to have a truly representative voice to government so that we can make policy decisions and policy announcements that truly represent the need, the will and the want of our rec fishers here in South Australia.

The SPEAKER: The member for Florey has been patiently waiting.