Recreational Fishers

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (14:48): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the house on how the state government and the Coalition government are improving opportunities for recreational fishers?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:48): I thank the member for Colton for his very important question, and I know that he loves to get down to the Henley jetty to catch fish, just like I did when I was his age.

It is important to understand that the Morrison Coalition has announced a great support package for recreational fishing nationally, just like the Marshall Liberal government has here in South Australia. What I can say is that a re-elected Morrison government will deliver more fishing opportunities for recreational fishing experiences: $20 million for fishing and camping facilities to improve, maintain and build new boating and marine rescue, fishing and camping facilities and an $8 million investment into habitat restoration.

We know that we have some great new habitat and artificial reefs. We have fish hotels in the rivers. All these habitat initiatives are a great part of what recreational fishing means to the enthusiast. We are delivering on our national fishing plan by working with recreational, commercial, Indigenous and aquaculture fisheries to develop a commonwealth fisheries resource-sharing framework and providing $400,000 for capacity building in fishing representation. What it shows is that the Morrison Coalition government is out there on behalf of the rec fishing sector, just like the Marshall Liberal government.

Recently, we upheld an election commitment and that was to set up the Recreational Fishing Advisory Council. I thank the member for Frome for hosting the inaugural meeting a couple of weeks ago. What we saw on 17 April at Port Pirie was that we now have nine truly representative people—passionate recreational fishers—who have come together to give the government a conduit for what recreational fishing needs.

It is not about going to government and giving the government what they want to hear. This group is a dedicated and loyal group of people who are going to give true connectivity to government. It is about understanding what the 277,000 rec fishers of South Australia are truly looking for. They are looking for a government that is listening, but they are also looking for a representative body that can actually be that true conduit.

I must say, too, that the fishing sector has already asked for change, and they have delivered with the creation of this council. I would also like to congratulate Graham Keegan, who has now been appointed the chair of the Recreational Fishing Advisory Council. The key task for the Recreational Fishing Advisory Council will be to develop a growth strategy for the sector.

Working with the Morrison Coalition, the Marshall Liberal government can achieve great things for the rec fishing sector. We know that the rec fishing sector has been disjointed under a previous government because they used to drive the wedge in and pit one sector against another. We will work together to grow the rec fishing sector here in South Australia.