Willcox Fights For Fishers Rights

The Queensland and Australian Government’s decision to ban commercial gillnet fishing was met with an onslaught of industry outcry as Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, called for an inquiry into the decision alongside Senator Susan McDonald and Senator Jonathon Duniam.

The motion, which was put forward in the Senate on Tuesday last week, would have allowed the industry and the fishers whose licences are at stake to have their say after the decision was made without any prior consultation.

“My Parliamentary colleagues and I put the motion forward last week to hold a Senate Inquiry and disappointingly, the Labor government and the Greens voted no,” Mr Willcox said.

“This decision has silenced the 90 or so licenced fishermen and women in North Queensland whose jobs will be on the chopping block come December this year and refuses to let them make their case.

“This inquiry would have finally given these individuals a voice and the opportunity to have their concerns heard before their lives were changed forever and for no good reason, but Labor and the Greens have taken away any opportunity for this to happen.

Mr Willcox has met with many north Queensland fishers and said the decision to remove their licences is “ridiculous”.

“These hard-working men and women don’t fish anywhere near the Great Barrier Reef, and for some communities here in North Queensland, they rely on these businesses,” he said.

“It’s not only the fishers themselves, but the chandlery shops, ice makers, outboard services and sales businesses, fish mongers, local fish and chip shops, and the Australian public who are going to be impacted.

“They may think they have silenced the fishermen and women who will be affected by this decision, but they haven’t silenced me, and I will continue to fight for the people of Dawson.”

To have your say, head to haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/fisheries-policy-reviews.

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Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie