Demersal fishing ban anger still bubbling as support for inquiry firms amid protest outside Parliament

Support for a parliamentary inquiry into fisheries has been bolstered as fishers once again made their anger known at the Government’s sweeping demersal fishing ban. Each of the Liberal, National, One Nation and now the Greens WA parties have flagged their support for conducting an inquiry into the State’s fisheries. Supporters say an inquiry would help shed light on to the decision-making behind the ban — which bars commercial and recreational fishers from catching demersal fish between Augusta and Kalbarri until at least 2027 — and would look into compensation. The support on Thursday from the Greens gives the motion the numbers for an inquiry, with or without the Government’s support. Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis has previously flagged she was open to an inquiry as there was “nothing to hide”. About 75 fishers protested the ban on Thursday outside Parliament, where Nationals leader Shane Love again disputed the science behind the ban. They gathered with Nationals and Liberal MPs like Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas and shadow fisheries minister Kirrilee Warr to make their voices heard. “All these groups who have come together because this State Government has made a decision which is not based on science,” he said. “If it’s based on science, it’s based on political science, it is not based on science about fisheries. “Science is not just collecting data on populations, it’s also about what you do with that data, the decisions you make from that data.” Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis confirmed she had been invited to the rally, but parliamentary business meant she was unable to attend. She maintained she had been open about the science. “What we released is the West Coast Commercial Resource Stock assessment - this was the report that was physically handed to the opposition spokesperson for fisheries in September,” she said. “This was published online, this report is peer reviewed, that’s standard practice for scientific reports, I don’t know what they’re seeking.” The ban has received mixed reviews on the crossbench. One Nation leader Rod Caddies criticised the ban and talked down recent polling support showing overall community support for it. “The public aren’t as educated as other people that are involved in the industry, or people like myself, so they haven’t been given all the information to go on,” he said. “You’re going to be (answering) polling on what you know. They don’t understand all the implications or what actually is involved in it.” But Animal Justice MP Amanda Dorn gave full support, calling the decision “wise and brave”. A disallowance motion was also raised in the Upper House, but won’t be voted for until either the Government wants to, or in 17 parliamentary sitting days - which would be June. It is not yet clear if crossbench support could see it get over the line.