[Greens-Media] Premier must intervene if Minister fails to act on Cronulla Fisheries - Greens

[Peter Stahel]

Premier must intervene if Minister fails to act on Cronulla Fisheries - Greens

Greens MP and environment spokesperson Cate Faehrmann says the Premier must intervene if the Primary Industries Minister fails to immediately implement the key recommendation from a Parliamentary Inquiry into the controversial closure of the Cronulla Fisheries Centre, and that is to reverse the decision.

Ms Faehrmann, who was a participating member of the Inquiry, said "I implore Premier O'Farrell to step in and save the day here if the Minister does not. Furthermore, if the Minister fails to act on our key recommendation the Premier should strip her of her portfolio.

"This Report has confirmed what the Greens knew all along. The decision had no feasible rationale, did not follow required government guidelines and treated the staff and the public appallingly. I have no doubt it will be used for years to come as a text book example of how governments should not make decisions.

"The decision was politically motivated and has caused a great deal of distress to many people while ruining the state's reputation internationally.  It is resulting in an irrevocable loss of scientific expertise from NSW Fisheries that will put management of the state's fish stocks at serious risk if not immediately reversed and the staff offered their jobs back. 

"The Minister's attitude to the inquiry was incredibly arrogant with the Minister and her senior bureaucrats appearing dismissive of parliament scrutiny at best.

"The report even has its own section 'The Minister's Approach to the Inquiry' and rightly so. The Minister first refused to appear before the Inquiry, then when she did appear, and only under considerable pressure we understand, she was found by the Committee to be 'evasive in failing to answer questions'. 

"The fact that the Minister and her Director-General refused to inform the Committee as to the real reason behind the decision is proof it was politically motivated and nothing else," said Ms Faehrmann.

Media contact: Peter Stahel 0433 005 727