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Time to build new connections between Fisheries and Cultural fishers

Writer's picture: The BeagleThe Beagle

Though not making any apology for the decade or more of what can only be called heavy handed policing that, to most, appeared to be directed, fixated, often beyond reasonable and in some instances personal, the report handed down by the Parliamentary Committee comes as a starting point for finally bringing an end to a bureaucratic failure that has resulted in needless torment and suffering for cultural fishers and their families in NSW. The inquiry, chaired by the Hon Mark Banasiak MLC Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party was established to investigate and report on the failure to proclaim the commencement of Schedule 1 of the Fisheries Management Amendment Act 2009 concerning Aboriginal cultural fishing. In the report's Forward ,the Chair, Mark Banasiak said: "In 2009 the Fisheries Management Act was amended by the NSW Government to acknowledge Aboriginal people's unique cultural connection to sea and inland waters and to protect and promote Aboriginal cultural fishing. A special provision, section 21AA, was also introduced which was intended to protect Aboriginal people from compliance actions for fishing offences if they were undertaking cultural fishing. Thirteen years later, section 21AA has still not been commenced, and extraordinarily, the will of the Parliament has failed to take effect. "During this inquiry the committee was extremely concerned to hear of the level of damage inflicted by compliance actions on Aboriginal people whose lives and culture are expressed and defined by their cultural fishing practices. We repeatedly heard stories of Aboriginal people being harassed, prosecuted, and fined for practising cultural fishing. Some Aboriginal fishers have been subject to terrible consequences, including jail terms and fines in the thousands of dollars. "Additionally, a number have reported reduced mental health and wellbeing due to being prevented from practising their culture. This was particularly apparent in evidence provided by fishers on the South Coast of NSW. The committee learnt that the impact of compliance actions goes beyond individuals and is felt deeply across the whole Aboriginal community. Sadly, the committee also learned that this is diminishing the transmission of culture from one generation to the next. "These outcomes are clearly inconsistent with the NSW Government's commitments to the Closing the Gap Agreement and must be addressed. Until section 21AA is commenced, the committee has called for this type of compliance action to be ceased". "Additionally, in the committee's view, the Department of Primary Industries Fisheries needs to address what can only be categorised as a cultural issue within its organisation. Our report highlights this, and also makes some important recommendations which should assist in lifting the cultural capability of the organisation". You can read the full report HERE

Photo: Wet and Windy Photos

NOTE: Comments were TRIALED - in the end it failed as humans will be humans and it turned into a pile of merde; only contributed to by just a handful who did little to add to the conversation of the issue at hand. Anyone who would like to contribute an opinion are encouraged to send in a Letter to the Editor where it might be considered for publication

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