The Allan Labor Government has partially backed down on its plans for massive cuts across Victoria's fisheries after advocacy from the Liberals and Nationals and Victoria's recreational fishing community.
However, the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) has confirmed it will cut 15 of its 69 frontline fisheries officers, with overall staffing to reduce from 192 to 157, while 2 stations across the metropolitan zone will close.
This will leave just 54 fisheries officers to patrol all of Victoria's coastline, which stretches more than 2,500 kilometres, and more than 250,000 kilometres of inland water frontage, rivers and creeks.
Initially, the Allan Labor Government planned to cut 33 frontline fisheries officers and close 5 offices across the metropolitan zone.
This follows the Liberals and Nationals tabling a petition in State Parliament this month, signed by more than 21,000 Victorians, demanding the Allan Labor Government scrap its planned gutting of fisheries compliance and enforcement.
Shadow Minister for Outdoor Recreation, Sam Groth, said: "Despite Labor's partial backdown, these cuts to fisheries enforcement could leave our waterways vulnerable to illegal fishing, marine damage, and serious safety risks.
"The Liberals and Nationals will always stand with our recreational fishing community to protect fish stocks, uphold fair rules, and ensure the long-term health of Victoria's marine environments.
"Labor's desperate attempt to reach a cash surplus is built on cutting services Victorians rely upon and excluding infrastructure spending from the budget bottom line, all while record debt is set to reach $194 billion.
"Make no mistake, these cuts are only occurring because Labor has mismanaged the state's finances. Labor cannot manage money, and Victorians are paying the price."
