Coalition caught out on fisheries funding
Tony Burke
posted Thursday, 19 August 2010
The Coalition has been caught out again failing to understand Australia's fisheries policy.
Today, in a media release from Senator Colbeck, the Coalition claim to be increasing funding for fisheries research and development by providing an additional 25 cents above what the Government currently provides.
However, in yesterday’s policy announcement the Coalition announced that they would contribute $1.25 for every $1 raised by industry.
The Coalition obviously doesn’t understand the budget for fisheries research and development and is now trying to cover their tracks.
In 2009-10, Federal Labor matched each industry dollar contributed to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation with almost $3 of Federal Government support.
Support for fisheries research and development is critical for the industry, particularly recreational fishing. The Coalition’s proposed funding levels will run down local industry, reduce productivity and profitability, and cost jobs in all our fishing communities
This is another basic mistake from the Coalition on the economy.
This sort of sloppy accounting is why Australian families can’t trust the Coalition with our national economy.
The Coalition is using this vital sector of the Australian economy as a political playground for their election campaign games.
All it does is show why the fishing industry can’t trust the Coalition to ensure that their industry is supported into the future.
Tags: Abbott, Burke, fish, fisheries, Tony