Morrison government commits $29m in federal funds to improve boat ramps, fishing

The package – most of which will be absorbed in a $20 million infrastructure fund designed to create more camping spots, and build new boat infrastructure including boat ramps – pales slightly in the wake of the $17 million that NSW spent on the recreation in the state last year alone, and Victoria’s commitment to plough almost $30 million of revenue raised each year from fishers and boaters back into infrastructure.

“The new fishing package comes on top of the ... government’s strong stand against the Labor-Green marine park fishing lock outs, which was and would be so damaging to fishing families and the industry,” the Liberal Party said in a statement posted on its website this week.

“Around one in five Australians are recreational fishers and the commercial and Indigenous sectors support thousands of Aussie jobs and businesses.”

Another $8 million will go towards fisheries habitat restoration, with the coalition promising to work with fishing clubs to restore marine and estuarine habitats.

“The health of many fisheries and fish stocks depends on the healthy and proper function of our rivers and estuaries, which provide critical nursery habitats,”it said. “Our fishers understand better than anyone the need to keep our waterways healthy.”

A further $600,000 will be committed to mental health support for a trial of a advocate program for the fisheries sector.

Early last year, Labor announced it would commit just $10 million to upgrade fishing facilities throughout Australia via a newly created fund.

The Coalition Government overturned Labor’s proposed marine parks expansion after it swept to power in 2013. The Labor proposal – which received the backing of the Greens – would have created 40 extra marine reserves throughout Australia’s coastline.