Media Releases

The Brumby Government’s miserly allocation of boating grants is an insult to Victoria’s recreational fishers, Shadow Minister for Fisheries and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said today.
Mr Walsh said the $5 million in boating grants allocated by the government amounted to only 25 per cent of the fees collected from boat owners, most of whom were recreational fishers.
“Last year the Brumby Government collected nearly $20 million from boat owners and operators in registration and licence fees,” Mr Walsh said.
“Millions of dollars raised from boat users are being siphoned into the Brumby Government’s coffers when it could instead be used to improve boating infrastructure.
“John Brumby clearly doesn’t care about the boating facilities across the state in desperate need of repair when his government is putting just $5 million back into the industry from this massive tax take on boat owners.
“Many piers, jetties and access roads have deteriorated to the point where it is hard for users to even access them.
“For example, facilities at McLoughlin’s Beach in Gippsland and inadequate boat ramps at Lake Eildon and Barmah are so neglected that they need a major upgrade.
“The Minister cannot claim that improving boating safety is a ‘high priority’ for the Brumby Government when his penny-pinching leaves community groups battling to access a limited amount of funding.”
Mr Walsh said Victoria’s 250,000 licensed boat users deserved a better deal than the miserly penny-pinching on show from John Brumby.
“Recreational fishers have every right to ask the Brumby Government where the other 75 per cent of registration and licence fees is going,” Mr Walsh said.