Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, the peak body representing recreational fishers say that it
secured a range of commitments from the major parties ahead
of the Northern Territory election. Now AVANT have been pushing
for reforms to the Barramundi fishery with the phasing out
of gillnets over the next term of government. It was
among forty three questions that the group's sought responses from well,
(00:21):
both from Labor and the COLP, and the CEO, David Girovolo,
joins me in the studio right now. Good morning to you, David.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Good morning Katie, and good morning everybody.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Now talk me through the commitments that you received from
both of the major parties at this stage. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Look from the outset, I want to say Katie that
we're really pleased with the engagement that we've had from
both the major parties, from Labor and the COLP in
responding to those range of questions across seven key policy areas.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
And we've received.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Significant support and commitments for the policies that we know
will be really important not only to maintain but to
improve the recreational fishing.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, not only for livability.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Of terror gratorians and our lifestyle and our social and
benefits and the culture that is recreational fishing, but also
for our two hundred and seventy million dollar industry in
the two and a half thousand people that are.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Employed in it. Yeah, well, this is the thing.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
It's such an important industry, so we've got to make
sure that we get it right. I know that obviously
the phasing out of gilnetting has been a major talking
point in recent weeks, months, maybe even longer. Where are
we at and how much of a challenge do you
think that this could actually be when it comes to
implementing this change.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Yeah, that's a very good question. So firstly, let's be
really clear.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
We've received commitments from Labor and from COLP that they
will commit to phasing out gillnetting over the next four years,
and it's really really important that we've received those two commitments.
We need to see that change in the barrel mundy fishery.
I think people have heard a lot about it, and
it's absolutely brilliant to have unequivocal promises that that will occur.
(01:59):
Now we've seen Labor come out and cost that at
fifteen million dollars in budget that in their forward estimates
we haven't seen a dollar value attached to it from
the COLP, but they have acknowledged that it would require
resourcing and they've talked about wanting to work with industry
on it. But Katie, to come to the other part
of your question, this is going to be a big
challenge for whoever forms government and whoever is the minister.
(02:23):
They are going to need to provide very clear direction
to their department to implement this, to get the ball rolling,
to not waste time, and to plan it from day
one because it is a big change and it's going
to be a big cultural change for the Fisheries Division
because we've seen throughout this a lot of talk around oh,
(02:44):
the fishery is sustainable, there's no need to do this,
and we need to have the minister, whoever that minister is,
really call the division's attention to the fact that they
are also an economic development agency and a social development
agency and that they have to look to provide the
optimum benefit to the community from our fisheries resources.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
And they'll be providing.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Clear direction that the way that that is in the
Barrow Monday Fishery is by phasing out guillnets and developing.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
A new approach to that fishery.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
So do you feel the Department sort of taking it
as seriously as what a minister might look.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I feel like there's been an element of business as usual.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
We saw a summary come out of the Barrel Mundy
Management Advisory Committee meeting which I was not able to
attend a week or two ago, and there was talk
around the next steps. And I just think that it's very,
very important that both the major parties, who are the
only parties that will form government, have made it very
(03:42):
clear they'll be reforming that fishery, that they will be
phasing out gilnetting, and that means that all of the
steps required to implement that change, which is a change
that will happen and needs to happen, and whoever forms
government will be held to account to make sure it happens.
The Division will have to get on board with that,
and the Minister will have to provide very clear direction
(04:02):
to make sure that happens.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Now, nobody really knows how the election's going to play out.
We don't know exactly what's going to happen, but I
know some are sort of speculating that some of the
independents may hold a balance of power. I'm assuming that
you did go and speak to two independents that that
you know fishing and recreation does obviously impact. We know
there's not much point in speaking to other member Farra
lu and there in Central Australia not a lot of
(04:24):
phishing in her electra, but the likes of Mulka for example,
there is Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Look, Katie, of course we will never tell anybody how
to vote, and we're happy to work with anybody who
forms government, but also anybody who's in the Parliament. And
absolutely it's been fairly high profile. I think it's fair
to say that we've put these questions out there that
it's been informed by the Anti rec Fishing Development Plan
and the years of work that went into that, and
so unsurprisingly we've had a number of some of the
(04:51):
minor parties where we've had the Greens come and talk
to us and they've provided a response. We've had the
Member for Malka. We've also had some other independence come
to us and we've put that information up on our
website as well, and we've also invited them I've ever
got more information they'd like us to put and we've
probably got some ongoing discussions with some of those independents,
we're happy to host that information as well.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
So, aside from the phasing out of the gill nets,
what are some of the other major issues and major
things that you've really been seeking a response from the
major parties about as we lead into the election.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Well, it's absolutely critical, of course that the people who
want to lead the territory understand that great fishing and
our valuable industry is not an accident. It's a matter
of active management that takes advantage of our natural assets.
And so we've sought commitments around fisheries management, around infrastructure,
around making fishing more accessible. So, as an example, Labor
(05:48):
have been quite clear that their intention is to want
to build a new jetty at East Point, and they've said,
you know, they've put money in the budget for that,
and they've said they've done public consultation on that. We've
seen from the seat that they seem to put their
focus around East Arm, improving the boat ramp there and
maybe making a lamb base or making a lamb based
fishing opportunity there.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
We've seen both parties commit to installing.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Disabled access ramps at boat ramps that help people with
mobility issues. Get into boats, in and out of boats,
and that's a really good development. We've also seen commitments
around not putting dams on our free flowing rivers. Now
this is the first time the CLP have committed to
not damning free flowing rivers in the Northern Territory and
that is a really strong and positive response.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
We're very, very pleased with that.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
And of course we've seen significant reform in the water
policy under the Labor government more recently, and they've talked
about wanting to regulate or that they've committed to regulating
or legislating that they will not dam the daily or
ropa rivers. And so again there's good, strong commitments around
that and that's essential. Who want to have great fishing
into the future yep. And look one of the other
(07:00):
look a couple of things. Yeah, engagement with Aboriginal people.
We know we need the resources to do that better,
to engage with to engage with traditional owners, to engage
with ranger groups. We've seen a strong commitment from Labor
a million dollars over two years to trial liaison officer program,
and we've seen an acknowledgment from the CLP that there
(07:21):
is a need for liaison officers. We haven't seen a
dollar value attached to it. Now, that's something we'd need
to work with them.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
So with all of this information now, because I guess
some people listening will be thinking, well, the recfishers, they're
a powerful group of voters. You know, I fish and
I vote is something that comes to mind immediately. You
know that people quite often say what do you do
with these responses? Because I know that you know you
just touched on before. You're never going to tell people
how to vote, but obviously you do provide these responses
(07:48):
or you certainly make them available. I'm assuming two members
of a fat and to all the rec fishers so
that people have got a better idea where the major
parties and even where the Independence and Green stand. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Absolutely, kay.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
I think it's really important to acknowledge, like there's sixty
thousand recreational fishes in the Northern Territory, thirty percent of men,
thirty percent of women going fishing in the Northern Territory,
So we understand that there is no typical recreational fish
out and recreational fishes come from all walks of life,
all ages, all socioeconomic backgrounds, and you know, people want
different things. Some people are sports fishing for barramundy and
(08:22):
other people catching sardines off the Stokeshill Wharf to cook
up a feast with their family, and so all of
those fishes are important. But what we know is there
are common threads and values and ideas that will need
to underpin a successful and a bright fishing future, and
that's what our policy question has been based upon. What
we have done is we've taken the responses of the
major party, so the Labor and COLP, and we've put
(08:45):
the answers to all of those questions.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
We put forty three.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
It's actually forty two because one of those questions became
redundant and we said, what will you do if you
won't phase out gilnetting. They've both agreed to do that,
so they can look at the results for themselves.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Is what we would suggest.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
We'd get Recreational fishes should visit our website atfan dot com.
Do you look at the latest news and they can
see for themselves the responses from the parties in their
own words put in those tables. But transparency and honesty
is very important here, so we've also provided links to
the original documents that the parties have provided us with okay,
and there's also a document there provided by the Greens
(09:21):
and the Member for Malka at the moment, and as
I said, if we receive more from independence, which is
an ongoing conversation, we'll upload.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Those two good stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Well, David Chirovolo, the CEO of A FAT, really appreciate
your time this morning. Thanks for coming in.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Thanks Katie, thank you.
Now, the peak body representing recreational fishers say that it
secured a range of commitments from the major parties ahead
of the Northern Territory election. Now AVANT have been pushing
for reforms to the Barramundi fishery with the phasing out
of gillnets over the next term of government. It was
among forty three questions that the group's sought responses from well,
(00:21):
both from Labor and the COLP, and the CEO, David Girovolo,
joins me in the studio right now. Good morning to you, David.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Good morning Katie, and good morning everybody.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Now talk me through the commitments that you received from
both of the major parties at this stage. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Look from the outset, I want to say Katie that
we're really pleased with the engagement that we've had from
both the major parties, from Labor and the COLP in
responding to those range of questions across seven key policy areas.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
And we've received.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Significant support and commitments for the policies that we know
will be really important not only to maintain but to
improve the recreational fishing.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, not only for livability.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Of terror gratorians and our lifestyle and our social and
benefits and the culture that is recreational fishing, but also
for our two hundred and seventy million dollar industry in
the two and a half thousand people that are.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Employed in it. Yeah, well, this is the thing.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
It's such an important industry, so we've got to make
sure that we get it right. I know that obviously
the phasing out of gilnetting has been a major talking
point in recent weeks, months, maybe even longer. Where are
we at and how much of a challenge do you
think that this could actually be when it comes to
implementing this change.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Yeah, that's a very good question. So firstly, let's be
really clear.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
We've received commitments from Labor and from COLP that they
will commit to phasing out gillnetting over the next four years,
and it's really really important that we've received those two commitments.
We need to see that change in the barrel mundy fishery.
I think people have heard a lot about it, and
it's absolutely brilliant to have unequivocal promises that that will occur.
(01:59):
Now we've seen Labor come out and cost that at
fifteen million dollars in budget that in their forward estimates
we haven't seen a dollar value attached to it from
the COLP, but they have acknowledged that it would require
resourcing and they've talked about wanting to work with industry
on it. But Katie, to come to the other part
of your question, this is going to be a big
challenge for whoever forms government and whoever is the minister.
(02:23):
They are going to need to provide very clear direction
to their department to implement this, to get the ball rolling,
to not waste time, and to plan it from day
one because it is a big change and it's going
to be a big cultural change for the Fisheries Division
because we've seen throughout this a lot of talk around oh,
(02:44):
the fishery is sustainable, there's no need to do this,
and we need to have the minister, whoever that minister is,
really call the division's attention to the fact that they
are also an economic development agency and a social development
agency and that they have to look to provide the
optimum benefit to the community from our fisheries resources.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
And they'll be providing.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Clear direction that the way that that is in the
Barrow Monday Fishery is by phasing out guillnets and developing.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
A new approach to that fishery.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
So do you feel the Department sort of taking it
as seriously as what a minister might look.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I feel like there's been an element of business as usual.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
We saw a summary come out of the Barrel Mundy
Management Advisory Committee meeting which I was not able to
attend a week or two ago, and there was talk
around the next steps. And I just think that it's very,
very important that both the major parties, who are the
only parties that will form government, have made it very
(03:42):
clear they'll be reforming that fishery, that they will be
phasing out gilnetting, and that means that all of the
steps required to implement that change, which is a change
that will happen and needs to happen, and whoever forms
government will be held to account to make sure it happens.
The Division will have to get on board with that,
and the Minister will have to provide very clear direction
(04:02):
to make sure that happens.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Now, nobody really knows how the election's going to play out.
We don't know exactly what's going to happen, but I
know some are sort of speculating that some of the
independents may hold a balance of power. I'm assuming that
you did go and speak to two independents that that
you know fishing and recreation does obviously impact. We know
there's not much point in speaking to other member Farra
lu and there in Central Australia not a lot of
(04:24):
phishing in her electra, but the likes of Mulka for example,
there is Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Look, Katie, of course we will never tell anybody how
to vote, and we're happy to work with anybody who
forms government, but also anybody who's in the Parliament. And
absolutely it's been fairly high profile. I think it's fair
to say that we've put these questions out there that
it's been informed by the Anti rec Fishing Development Plan
and the years of work that went into that, and
so unsurprisingly we've had a number of some of the
(04:51):
minor parties where we've had the Greens come and talk
to us and they've provided a response. We've had the
Member for Malka. We've also had some other independence come
to us and we've put that information up on our
website as well, and we've also invited them I've ever
got more information they'd like us to put and we've
probably got some ongoing discussions with some of those independents,
we're happy to host that information as well.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
So, aside from the phasing out of the gill nets,
what are some of the other major issues and major
things that you've really been seeking a response from the
major parties about as we lead into the election.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Well, it's absolutely critical, of course that the people who
want to lead the territory understand that great fishing and
our valuable industry is not an accident. It's a matter
of active management that takes advantage of our natural assets.
And so we've sought commitments around fisheries management, around infrastructure,
around making fishing more accessible. So, as an example, Labor
(05:48):
have been quite clear that their intention is to want
to build a new jetty at East Point, and they've said,
you know, they've put money in the budget for that,
and they've said they've done public consultation on that. We've
seen from the seat that they seem to put their
focus around East Arm, improving the boat ramp there and
maybe making a lamb base or making a lamb based
fishing opportunity there.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
We've seen both parties commit to installing.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Disabled access ramps at boat ramps that help people with
mobility issues. Get into boats, in and out of boats,
and that's a really good development. We've also seen commitments
around not putting dams on our free flowing rivers. Now
this is the first time the CLP have committed to
not damning free flowing rivers in the Northern Territory and
that is a really strong and positive response.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
We're very, very pleased with that.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
And of course we've seen significant reform in the water
policy under the Labor government more recently, and they've talked
about wanting to regulate or that they've committed to regulating
or legislating that they will not dam the daily or
ropa rivers. And so again there's good, strong commitments around
that and that's essential. Who want to have great fishing
into the future yep. And look one of the other
(07:00):
look a couple of things. Yeah, engagement with Aboriginal people.
We know we need the resources to do that better,
to engage with to engage with traditional owners, to engage
with ranger groups. We've seen a strong commitment from Labor
a million dollars over two years to trial liaison officer program,
and we've seen an acknowledgment from the CLP that there
(07:21):
is a need for liaison officers. We haven't seen a
dollar value attached to it. Now, that's something we'd need
to work with them.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
So with all of this information now, because I guess
some people listening will be thinking, well, the recfishers, they're
a powerful group of voters. You know, I fish and
I vote is something that comes to mind immediately. You
know that people quite often say what do you do
with these responses? Because I know that you know you
just touched on before. You're never going to tell people
how to vote, but obviously you do provide these responses
(07:48):
or you certainly make them available. I'm assuming two members
of a fat and to all the rec fishers so
that people have got a better idea where the major
parties and even where the Independence and Green stand. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Absolutely, kay.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
I think it's really important to acknowledge, like there's sixty
thousand recreational fishes in the Northern Territory, thirty percent of men,
thirty percent of women going fishing in the Northern Territory,
So we understand that there is no typical recreational fish
out and recreational fishes come from all walks of life,
all ages, all socioeconomic backgrounds, and you know, people want
different things. Some people are sports fishing for barramundy and
(08:22):
other people catching sardines off the Stokeshill Wharf to cook
up a feast with their family, and so all of
those fishes are important. But what we know is there
are common threads and values and ideas that will need
to underpin a successful and a bright fishing future, and
that's what our policy question has been based upon. What
we have done is we've taken the responses of the
major party, so the Labor and COLP, and we've put
(08:45):
the answers to all of those questions.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
We put forty three.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
It's actually forty two because one of those questions became
redundant and we said, what will you do if you
won't phase out gilnetting. They've both agreed to do that,
so they can look at the results for themselves.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Is what we would suggest.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
We'd get Recreational fishes should visit our website atfan dot com.
Do you look at the latest news and they can
see for themselves the responses from the parties in their
own words put in those tables. But transparency and honesty
is very important here, so we've also provided links to
the original documents that the parties have provided us with okay,
and there's also a document there provided by the Greens
(09:21):
and the Member for Malka at the moment, and as
I said, if we receive more from independence, which is
an ongoing conversation, we'll upload.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Those two good stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Well, David Chirovolo, the CEO of A FAT, really appreciate
your time this morning. Thanks for coming in.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Thanks Katie, thank you.
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