Yesterday (23 June), without warning, the Shooters and Fishers' Party Marine Parks Amendment (Moratorium) Bill was passed in the NSW Legislative Council.
Once passed by the Legislative Assembly, a moratorium on new marine parks and sanctuary zones will be in place:
1. for the next five years; or
2. until the Ministers for Fisheries and Environment decide to lift the moratorium.
The State government claims it is taking the politics out of marine parks, but their support for a moratorium on new marine parks and sanctuaries is purely politically motivated.
There is no policy rationale to justify the Government's support for the moratorium. The State government already has the power to decide if and when it will declare a new marine park or alter marine park boundaries or zonings.
TAKE ACTION:
1. Please contact the offices of the Premier, Minister for Fisheries and Minister for Environment and demand they explain why the Coalition government has supported this Bill.
Here's the details:
Premier Barry O'Farrell
Phone: (02) 9228 5239
Fax: (02) 9228 3935
Email: office@premier.nsw.gov.au
Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson
Phone: (02) 9228 5210
Fax: (02) 9228 5969
Email: office@hodgkinson.minister.nsw.gov.au
Minister for the Environment, Robyn Parker
Phone: (02) 9228 5253
Fax: (02) 9228 5763
Email: office@parker.minister.nsw.gov.au
2. Read the Sydney Morning Herald article, Libs back Shooters' marine bill by Sean Nicholls (24/06/2011). Thank you to all our supporters who submitted a Letter to the Editor, read the selection of letters published on Saturday 25/06 here.
It would be great if you could cc Marine Campaigner, Paula Brown, on your correspondence.
Email: pbrown@nccnsw.org.au
Thanks for your support!
