Minister's Recreational Fishing Advisory Council

The Hon. L.A. CURRAN (15:10): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding the Minister's Recreational Fishing Advisory Council. Will the minister retain the Minister's Recreational Fishing Advisory Council, and will the minister be keeping the Recreational Fishing Strategy 2021 to 2024 for South Australia?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for her question. Before the election, one of our election commitments in regard to recreational fishing was that we would re-establish RecFish SA as the peak body for the recreational fishing sector. The committee to which the honourable member refers is of course aware of that decision, and we are currently in the process of formally winding down what is colloquially known as the MRFAC, and of course we have already been in contact with RecFish SA and I have had a joint meeting with the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing in another place and RecFish SA in regard to that.

Another part of our commitment was that recreational fishing would fall under the remit of the other minister, the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, and therefore we will have that separation, if you like, between the recreational fishing sector and the commercial fishing sector in terms of ministerial responsibilities. Of course, many of the regulations and other instruments in regard to recreational fishing are covered or impacted by the acts which are under my jurisdiction as Minister for Primary Industries and therefore there will be some crossover. But in terms of the peak body going forward, that will be RecFish SA.

We certainly appreciate that the members of MRFAC have put effort into the role that they have had over the last couple of years. I recall that there were a number of resignations from that committee under the term of the previous government and certainly feedback whilst I was in opposition indicated a strong sense from many recreational fishers of having RecFish SA as the peak body—as I understand that it was for many years prior to the election of the previous Liberal government.

I am very happy today to place on the record our thanks to MRFAC and look forward to future positive interactions with all recreational fishers. I also would encourage members of MRFAC, should they so wish, to become involved in RecFish SA and potentially stand for office if they would like to continue to be involved in the recreational fishing sector.