Labor's new fishing tax

QUEENSLAND PARTY HIGHLIGHTS LABORS TAX BY STEALTH

The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns D.J.HUNT has condemned the Queensland Labor government for trying to introduce a tax by stealth and cripple struggling Far North businesses by introducing a $90 license fee for fishing.

Mr Hunt said "This is another example of the financially and ideas bankrupt Labor government trying to squeeze money out of battlers by introducing a tax by stealth. This idea to slug fishers $90 is nothing but a revenue raising stunt that will cost people their livelihood and further reduce the options for Queenslanders to enjoy our great outdoors.”

Mr Hunt’s statements came after the Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin announced steps to address concerns raised about snapper numbers with one proposal being a fee for recreational anglers.

Mr Hunt said “They don’t even know who’s going to enforce these stupid rules. If mum and dad want to take their 5 year old son or daughter down to the wharf to throw in a hand line with a piece of bread on it, does the 5 year old have to pay the $90? How would slugging that 5 year old child, that would be lucky to catch a toad fish, $90 save one extra snapper?”

“This has huge implications for the Far North which has long been a fishing tourism destination. This places at risk the livelihoods of tour operators, charter operators, recreational businesses, fishing and tackle shops, fuel suppliers etc. The list goes on.”Mr Hunt said

“In these tough times the last thing the Far North needs is another new tax by stealth that will cripple our local businesses or worse send them to the wall. If it’s really about managing our fish stocks let’s talk about that issue. The fact is, it’s nothing but revenue raising plain and simple and Labor should be condemned for it. ” Mr Hunt stated.