Saffin’s SeaNet comments show she’s out of touch with Clarence Valley fishing industry

June 23, 2008

Janelle Saffin’s comments on axing funding for the SeaNet programme show how out of touch she is with the local fishing industry, The Nationals Federal Member for Cowper, Luke Hartsuyker, said today.

 

Following revelations the Rudd Government was cutting funding to the SeaNet programme, Ms Saffin was reported in the Grafton Examiner as saying the facilitators of SeaNet, OceanWatch could apply for funding under another programme.

 

Mr Hartsuyker said Ms Saffin has revealed a complete lack of understanding of the impact of SeaNet’s demise.

 

“What Janelle Saffin must understand is that without funding, SeaNet will be wound up in the next few weeks and all the research, knowledge and partnerships that have been developed over the past nine years will be lost to the fishing industry.

 

“To say that OceanWatch can simply apply for funds under a new programme fails to acknowledge the six months it will take the government to consider a new funding application. The future of SeaNet is in real time and that means now  –  not at the end of the year.

 

“If Ms Saffin had also taken the time to consult the local fishing industry she would know the Rudd Government has placed a $400,000 cap on funding under the new programme. This is not enough to keep the existing SeaNet programme afloat.

 

“At a time when the local fishing industry has faced a 300 per cent increase in the cost of diesel since 2003, it is absolutely essential that fishermen maximise their yield and operate in an environmentally sustainable way. SeaNet played a vital role in linking marine research with a sustainable fishing industry in the Clarence Valley.

 

“This is another case of Janelle Saffin failing to respond to the needs of her constituents. She has failed the Clarence Valley on SeaNet just as she has failed the local community on fuel prices.

 

“What the Clarence Valley fishing industry was seeking was strong representation. But instead Janelle Saffin has sacrificed the interests of her constituency for the sake of toeing the party line.”

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