Flip-flop Frecklington called on to clarify LNP position on net-free zones

Published Wednesday, 20 December, 2017 at 09:15 AM

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries
The Honourable Mark Furner

Fisheries Minister Mark Furner today called-on Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington to clarify her Party’s position on net-free zones after her comments on the Palaszczuk Government’s latest investment to promote them.

“Yesterday I announced a $300,000 investment to promote the net-free zones in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton to encourage more visitors to come to enjoy the fantastic recreational fishing opportunities they are creating,” said Minister Furner.

“With matching funding promised by the Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton regional councils that’s $600,000 to help get that message across, boost visitor numbers and stimulate the local economies which benefit from fishing tourism.

“So it was incredibly disappointing to see media reports of Deb Frecklington once again criticising the net-free zones.

“Deb Frecklington spent two years campaigning hard against the introduction of the zones and attempted to have them disallowed in Parliament.

“Then the LNP did a backflip on the advice of Members like Whitsunday MP Jason Costigan who feared he would be booted at the election if their policy didn’t change because the net-free zones have proved so effective and so popular.

“If the new LNP leader is flip-flopping on the backflip then she needs to come out and make her position crystal clear.

“Many organisations, not least Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton councils, are making business investment decisions based on the zones and their potential to attract recreational fishers from all over Australia and abroad.

“Those investors deserve certainty and want to hear categorically that the LNP will not scrap the net-free zones if they ever get back into government.”

Recreational fishing lobby group CAREFISH is annoyed and frustrated at the constant LNP swipes at recreational fishers and their industry.

Founder Paul Aubin said Deb Frecklington might try consulting with us for a change, in her second term in opposition, and stop making ridiculous comments.

Media contact: 0448 994 172