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Labor’s Plan for Fisheries

Submitted by Adam Gallash on Tue, 2005-09-06 09:38

Many thanks to Terry Fuller for this link:

http://www.wa.alp.org.au/dl/electionpolicy/planforfisheries.pdf


This is the labor government's plan for the future of fisheries here in Western Australia..  Please read up and see what they have planned for out waters as it will influence our recreational fishing livelihoods in one way or another..

I am currently reading through it and will post up my thoughts once done..  I strongly suggest you read this document!!!

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Salmo

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looks like the "Wake Up Geoff" stickers have had a impact

Wed, 2005-09-07 11:57

Lots of promised here, and a couple of smoke screens.....

I dont believe what the pollies say anyway


 

Adam Gallash

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Labor Plans

Wed, 2005-09-07 12:43

Best thing about it thou is if it is in writing, they can be held accountable to their promises.. Well, to some degree!  They always manage to squeeze and squirm their ways out of most things and an industry that doesn't exert enough political pressure on their 'mis-truths' and broken promises is bound to be forgotten.

There needs to be political pressure on them to become scared of what might happen if they don't come through with their promises.. Soon as they might be in danger of losing their seats or having mud slung at them, they wake up and smell the beans rather quickly from my opinion..  And this should go for both sides of parliament, not just one party.

For those that may not have seen, Here is RecFishWest's Website as the representative body for Western Australian Fishermen.

http://recfishwest.org.au/

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TerryF

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Date Joined: 11/08/05

AdamThis all came about

Thu, 2005-09-08 07:30

Adam

This all came about because of the Recfishwest Election Policy questions, which were prepared on behalf of the recreational fishing community of Western Australia.

These helped focus the Political Parties attention on to many of the issues which are very important to recreational anglers.

These detailed questions are at http://www.recfishwest.org.au/ElectionPolicy2004.htm and were put to all the Political Parties quite some time before the February 2005 WA State Election.

The responses Recfishwest received (or links to them) are also on the Recfishwest website, including :-

Australian Labor Party Policy Document "Labor's plan for fisheries" http://www.wa.alp.org.au/dl/electionpolicy/planforfisheries.pdf

WA Liberal National Coalition Recreational Fishing Position Statement http://www.recfishwest.org.au/ElectionWALibNatPositionStmt.htm

Minister for the Environment - a part response covering some environmental questions http://www.recfishwest.org.au/ElectionMinEdwards.htm

Minister for Fisheries - a media statement announcing an expanded education program http://www.recfishwest.org.au/ElectionMediaRelMinChance.htm

Letter from the Premier of Western Australia  http://www.recfishwest.org.au/ElectionStmtPremier.htm

This is all old stuff now, but as you say, should be kept under review to check that the election policies and promises are actually delivered.

Because the Labor Party won the election, every recreational angler should download a copy of the Labor party's promises and keep it somewhere.

Then everyone can ask the Labor candidates in their electorate "tell me what you have done to keep these promises about fishing" when those candidates are looking for your vote to elect them at the next State Election.

Some of these policies didn't get released until just before the actual election because of all the political hoohar during the election campaign. The Labor Party policy might not have been released at all if not for pressure from Recfishwest.

Just think where we would be with an elected government which hadn't committed themselves in writing to a fisheries policy.......

And yes, Recfishwest will be watching and using these promises and quoting them back to the Government whenever needed.......

That's just one example of some the great amount of work done by Recfishwest to look after everyone's recreational fishing interests and the future of recreational fishing.

TerryF
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Adam Gallash

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Recfish Question - Terry

Thu, 2005-09-08 11:34

Why isn't Recfish putting more pressure on them politically or running a cantidate in the election?

It seems they have put pressure on in regards to getting them to put a detailed policy into action, which is really just bringing attention to them, by means of them releasing a media statement with their intentions, which makes it seem like they care and are doing something in regards to the fishing industry.

How can Recfish make them accountable to those decisions without a 'voice' that is heard and actually considered by them?  Is there a media avenue apart from forums and emails that recfish can utilise to show the people the government's mistakes, futile promises or what they are doing in regards to what they have stated?

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TerryF

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RecfishWEST

Thu, 2005-09-08 22:30

Adam

RecfishWEST is wrongly called "Recfish" because there is another organisation called "Recfish Australia"

RecfishWEST is Western Australia's peak recreational fishing organisation. See http://www.recfishwest.org.au/

Recfish Australia is Australia's peak recreational fishing organisation to represent recreational anglers at the Commonwealth level.

Check Recfish Australia's website at http://www.recfishoz.com/ for details of what they do. (Still under re-construction 5 Sept 2005)

One candidate is not enough. Need enough candidates to get / share balance of power.

It is difficult to get the people to stand for election, takes a lot of time and it is very costly, and it is a very high risk strategy which it can turn into lose/lose.

Call me and I'll tell you about the issues.

TerryF
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Adam Gallash

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Recfish - West

Thu, 2005-09-08 23:13

Sorry Terry, I actually thought they were different bodies but failed to write that in as part of my response.

I can understand the difficulties, costs involved and slander that could be involved with a political operation.  But to be recognised doesn't someone need to stand up and have their say - because if everyone isn't willing to do so, then it won't happen in the immediate future? 

Especially at a time where the labor government has extreme control over the system, the media muppets and a depleted opposition party.  I feel it is unlikely that a voice will be heard that really represents WA anglers in the current predicament.

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TerryF

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Political Parties and Policies.

Fri, 2005-09-09 09:42

Adam

Looks like you've read the Hotbite posts on the Fishing Party and Recfishwest.

Being part of a Political Party in opposition to Government and in competition with the other established political parties is NOT the only or necessarily the BEST way to get recognised, despite what some people will say.

Note that they don't get in and be a candidate or form a political party or get political - they just want someone else to do it - and pay the price.

Look at the recent history of the Greens, National Party, One Nation, and other small parties and independents and ask:- can we do better with the usual total apathy of recreational anglers??? And last the distance and not be just a short term annoyance???

Not likely, but if anyone thinks otherwise go and try it.

It's stategy. Consider three alternatives:-

1. the chances of losing and all the high costs and big disadvantages of losing,

2. the chances of winning and the benefits of winning (and if those benefits can actually be collected), because you might "win" and still lose BIG time, if you don't win "enough" and

3. what can still be achieved by other methods which don't have ANY of those "bad luck, that's a big loss for you" outcomes.

and it's not hard to see why 3. has a lot going for it.

Phone me and I'll give you lots of info.

Too busy now to write it all out and Elections are a long way off anyway

TerryF
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Beavering away in the background....... on so many things that not everything gets done when I would like it to be done.....

Adam Gallash

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RecFishWest - Political

Fri, 2005-09-09 11:44

I hadn't fully read what they had said on hotbite, but I can understand your frustration now.. And as for monskie, always willing to sling the mud, never too willing to accept when its thrown back..

I do agree to some level with what Max is saying, but your rebuttal's here level the playing field..
Certainly a difficult situation and one that puts Recfishwest right in the middle..  Atleast something is being done and regarding your involvement and role, I don't see them doing a hell of a lot except casting stones where there are some relevant points, but I don't see how it helps improve the situation in any way or form.

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