Local commercial fishers have been trawled through the mud by the Labor Government who have failed to provide any answers over the latest vessel monitoring system (VMS) bungle.
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said the VMS has gone from failure to failure with major issues surrounding the suppliers from the start.
A contract for the supply of VMS was cancelled between Option Audio and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries less than a year after it the VMS regulation was rolled out.
“How can our anglers be expected to continue to supply Queensland with seafood, let alone run a viable business, when all their time and energy must go into jumping though Labor’s ridiculous hoops,” Mr Bennett said.
“It’s beyond a joke, our fishers where given less than two weeks’ notice to find a new provider, we’ve seen tracker units that were not designed to get wet be recommended to people who work in boats, it’s excruciating to watch.
“We warned of this bugled roll out a long time ago, but did they listen? No.
“We questioned when the Palaszczuk Government became aware of the issues industry was experiencing during Estimates and surprise surprise, we didn’t get an answer.
“Our fishers deserve better, they don’t deserve to be left high and dry.
“The Minister needs to accept responsibility and take action on getting these small businesses the refunds they deserve.”
Local Commercial Fisherman Paul Grunske said the Queensland Fisheries Department has become impossible to work with.
“It’s like we’re under siege from the Department of Fisheries, they’re routing the entire industry,” he said.
“We do what we can to work with them but it’s like trying to work with the enemy.
“We’re working with bureaucracy that just wants to get rid of you.
“This is just the latest debacle they’re putting us through, there’s only so much we can take.”
29-07-19