1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: Now, the peak body representing recreational fishers say that it 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: secured a range of commitments from the major parties ahead 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:11,399 Speaker 1: of the Northern Territory election. Now AVANT have been pushing 4 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: for reforms to the Barramundi fishery with the phasing out 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: of gillnets over the next term of government. It was 6 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:21,479 Speaker 1: among forty three questions that the group's sought responses from well, 7 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: both from Labor and the COLP, and the CEO, David Girovolo, 8 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: joins me in the studio right now. Good morning to you, David. 9 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, and good morning everybody. 10 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: Now talk me through the commitments that you received from 11 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,200 Speaker 1: both of the major parties at this stage. Yeah. 12 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 3: Look from the outset, I want to say Katie that 13 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 3: we're really pleased with the engagement that we've had from 14 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 3: both the major parties, from Labor and the COLP in 15 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 3: responding to those range of questions across seven key policy areas. 16 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:48,840 Speaker 2: And we've received. 17 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 3: Significant support and commitments for the policies that we know 18 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 3: will be really important not only to maintain but to 19 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 3: improve the recreational fishing. 20 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, not only for livability. 21 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 3: Of terror gratorians and our lifestyle and our social and 22 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 3: benefits and the culture that is recreational fishing, but also 23 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 3: for our two hundred and seventy million dollar industry in 24 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:09,199 Speaker 3: the two and a half thousand people that are. 25 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 2: Employed in it. Yeah, well, this is the thing. 26 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 1: It's such an important industry, so we've got to make 27 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 1: sure that we get it right. I know that obviously 28 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: the phasing out of gilnetting has been a major talking 29 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: point in recent weeks, months, maybe even longer. Where are 30 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: we at and how much of a challenge do you 31 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: think that this could actually be when it comes to 32 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: implementing this change. 33 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a very good question. So firstly, let's be 34 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 2: really clear. 35 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 3: We've received commitments from Labor and from COLP that they 36 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 3: will commit to phasing out gillnetting over the next four years, 37 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 3: and it's really really important that we've received those two commitments. 38 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 3: We need to see that change in the barrel mundy fishery. 39 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 3: I think people have heard a lot about it, and 40 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 3: it's absolutely brilliant to have unequivocal promises that that will occur. 41 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 3: Now we've seen Labor come out and cost that at 42 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 3: fifteen million dollars in budget that in their forward estimates 43 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,359 Speaker 3: we haven't seen a dollar value attached to it from 44 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 3: the COLP, but they have acknowledged that it would require 45 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 3: resourcing and they've talked about wanting to work with industry 46 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 3: on it. But Katie, to come to the other part 47 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 3: of your question, this is going to be a big 48 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 3: challenge for whoever forms government and whoever is the minister. 49 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 3: They are going to need to provide very clear direction 50 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 3: to their department to implement this, to get the ball rolling, 51 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 3: to not waste time, and to plan it from day 52 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 3: one because it is a big change and it's going 53 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 3: to be a big cultural change for the Fisheries Division 54 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 3: because we've seen throughout this a lot of talk around oh, 55 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:46,799 Speaker 3: the fishery is sustainable, there's no need to do this, 56 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,920 Speaker 3: and we need to have the minister, whoever that minister is, 57 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 3: really call the division's attention to the fact that they 58 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 3: are also an economic development agency and a social development 59 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 3: agency and that they have to look to provide the 60 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 3: optimum benefit to the community from our fisheries resources. 61 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 2: And they'll be providing. 62 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 3: Clear direction that the way that that is in the 63 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 3: Barrow Monday Fishery is by phasing out guillnets and developing. 64 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 2: A new approach to that fishery. 65 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: So do you feel the Department sort of taking it 66 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,359 Speaker 1: as seriously as what a minister might look. 67 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 2: I feel like there's been an element of business as usual. 68 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 3: We saw a summary come out of the Barrel Mundy 69 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 3: Management Advisory Committee meeting which I was not able to 70 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:32,359 Speaker 3: attend a week or two ago, and there was talk 71 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 3: around the next steps. And I just think that it's very, 72 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 3: very important that both the major parties, who are the 73 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 3: only parties that will form government, have made it very 74 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 3: clear they'll be reforming that fishery, that they will be 75 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 3: phasing out gilnetting, and that means that all of the 76 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 3: steps required to implement that change, which is a change 77 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 3: that will happen and needs to happen, and whoever forms 78 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 3: government will be held to account to make sure it happens. 79 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 3: The Division will have to get on board with that, 80 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 3: and the Minister will have to provide very clear direction 81 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 3: to make sure that happens. 82 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: Now, nobody really knows how the election's going to play out. 83 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: We don't know exactly what's going to happen, but I 84 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: know some are sort of speculating that some of the 85 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: independents may hold a balance of power. I'm assuming that 86 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 1: you did go and speak to two independents that that 87 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: you know fishing and recreation does obviously impact. We know 88 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,040 Speaker 1: there's not much point in speaking to other member Farra 89 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: lu and there in Central Australia not a lot of 90 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: phishing in her electra, but the likes of Mulka for example, 91 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 1: there is Yeah. 92 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 3: Look, Katie, of course we will never tell anybody how 93 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 3: to vote, and we're happy to work with anybody who 94 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 3: forms government, but also anybody who's in the Parliament. And 95 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 3: absolutely it's been fairly high profile. I think it's fair 96 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 3: to say that we've put these questions out there that 97 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 3: it's been informed by the Anti rec Fishing Development Plan 98 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 3: and the years of work that went into that, and 99 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 3: so unsurprisingly we've had a number of some of the 100 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 3: minor parties where we've had the Greens come and talk 101 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 3: to us and they've provided a response. We've had the 102 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 3: Member for Malka. We've also had some other independence come 103 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 3: to us and we've put that information up on our 104 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 3: website as well, and we've also invited them I've ever 105 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 3: got more information they'd like us to put and we've 106 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,840 Speaker 3: probably got some ongoing discussions with some of those independents, 107 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 3: we're happy to host that information as well. 108 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: So, aside from the phasing out of the gill nets, 109 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 1: what are some of the other major issues and major 110 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: things that you've really been seeking a response from the 111 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: major parties about as we lead into the election. 112 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 3: Well, it's absolutely critical, of course that the people who 113 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 3: want to lead the territory understand that great fishing and 114 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 3: our valuable industry is not an accident. It's a matter 115 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 3: of active management that takes advantage of our natural assets. 116 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 3: And so we've sought commitments around fisheries management, around infrastructure, 117 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 3: around making fishing more accessible. So, as an example, Labor 118 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 3: have been quite clear that their intention is to want 119 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 3: to build a new jetty at East Point, and they've said, 120 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 3: you know, they've put money in the budget for that, 121 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 3: and they've said they've done public consultation on that. We've 122 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 3: seen from the seat that they seem to put their 123 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 3: focus around East Arm, improving the boat ramp there and 124 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 3: maybe making a lamb base or making a lamb based 125 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:08,280 Speaker 3: fishing opportunity there. 126 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 2: We've seen both parties commit to installing. 127 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 3: Disabled access ramps at boat ramps that help people with 128 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 3: mobility issues. Get into boats, in and out of boats, 129 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 3: and that's a really good development. We've also seen commitments 130 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 3: around not putting dams on our free flowing rivers. Now 131 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 3: this is the first time the CLP have committed to 132 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 3: not damning free flowing rivers in the Northern Territory and 133 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 3: that is a really strong and positive response. 134 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 2: We're very, very pleased with that. 135 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 3: And of course we've seen significant reform in the water 136 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:44,840 Speaker 3: policy under the Labor government more recently, and they've talked 137 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:48,160 Speaker 3: about wanting to regulate or that they've committed to regulating 138 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 3: or legislating that they will not dam the daily or 139 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 3: ropa rivers. And so again there's good, strong commitments around 140 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 3: that and that's essential. Who want to have great fishing 141 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 3: into the future yep. And look one of the other 142 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 3: look a couple of things. Yeah, engagement with Aboriginal people. 143 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 3: We know we need the resources to do that better, 144 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 3: to engage with to engage with traditional owners, to engage 145 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 3: with ranger groups. We've seen a strong commitment from Labor 146 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 3: a million dollars over two years to trial liaison officer program, 147 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 3: and we've seen an acknowledgment from the CLP that there 148 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 3: is a need for liaison officers. We haven't seen a 149 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 3: dollar value attached to it. Now, that's something we'd need 150 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 3: to work with them. 151 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: So with all of this information now, because I guess 152 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: some people listening will be thinking, well, the recfishers, they're 153 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 1: a powerful group of voters. You know, I fish and 154 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: I vote is something that comes to mind immediately. You 155 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: know that people quite often say what do you do 156 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 1: with these responses? Because I know that you know you 157 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 1: just touched on before. You're never going to tell people 158 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: how to vote, but obviously you do provide these responses 159 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: or you certainly make them available. I'm assuming two members 160 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 1: of a fat and to all the rec fishers so 161 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: that people have got a better idea where the major 162 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: parties and even where the Independence and Green stand. Yeah. 163 00:07:59,040 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 2: Absolutely, kay. 164 00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 3: I think it's really important to acknowledge, like there's sixty 165 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 3: thousand recreational fishes in the Northern Territory, thirty percent of men, 166 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 3: thirty percent of women going fishing in the Northern Territory, 167 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 3: So we understand that there is no typical recreational fish 168 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 3: out and recreational fishes come from all walks of life, 169 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 3: all ages, all socioeconomic backgrounds, and you know, people want 170 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 3: different things. Some people are sports fishing for barramundy and 171 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 3: other people catching sardines off the Stokeshill Wharf to cook 172 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 3: up a feast with their family, and so all of 173 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 3: those fishes are important. But what we know is there 174 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,680 Speaker 3: are common threads and values and ideas that will need 175 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 3: to underpin a successful and a bright fishing future, and 176 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 3: that's what our policy question has been based upon. What 177 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 3: we have done is we've taken the responses of the 178 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 3: major party, so the Labor and COLP, and we've put 179 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 3: the answers to all of those questions. 180 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 2: We put forty three. 181 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 3: It's actually forty two because one of those questions became 182 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 3: redundant and we said, what will you do if you 183 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 3: won't phase out gilnetting. They've both agreed to do that, 184 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:58,319 Speaker 3: so they can look at the results for themselves. 185 00:08:58,360 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 2: Is what we would suggest. 186 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 3: We'd get Recreational fishes should visit our website atfan dot com. 187 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 3: Do you look at the latest news and they can 188 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 3: see for themselves the responses from the parties in their 189 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 3: own words put in those tables. But transparency and honesty 190 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:15,319 Speaker 3: is very important here, so we've also provided links to 191 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 3: the original documents that the parties have provided us with okay, 192 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 3: and there's also a document there provided by the Greens 193 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:22,839 Speaker 3: and the Member for Malka at the moment, and as 194 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 3: I said, if we receive more from independence, which is 195 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 3: an ongoing conversation, we'll upload. 196 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 2: Those two good stuff. 197 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 1: Well, David Chirovolo, the CEO of A FAT, really appreciate 198 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: your time this morning. Thanks for coming in. 199 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, thank you.