❓ Hon Brian Ellis questions Hon Jon Ford, the Minister for Fisheries, regarding his absence from public briefings on fishing reforms in Geraldton, citing concerns from local fishermen. Hon Ford defends his absence, citing conflicting information and the consultative nature of the meetings.
AnsweredQoN 1026Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FISHING INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT - PUBLIC BRIEFINGS
I refer to a report in The Geraldton Guardian of 29 October that local fishermen are up in arms that the minister did not attend public briefings in Geraldton on the controversial fishing reforms. (1) Is the minister aware that more than 140 recreational and commercial fishermen found time to attend the two meetings? (2) Is he aware that these fishermen have expressed frustration and disappointment that he did not attend? (3) Is he aware of the reported explanation from his spokeswoman that his attendance would have served only as a distraction. (4) Does he accept that his absence from such important meetings may leave local fishermen with the impression that he does not see their family livelihoods as a priority? Hon JON FORD
I refer to a report in The Geraldton Guardian of 29 October that local fishermen are up in arms that the minister did not attend public briefings in Geraldton on the controversial fishing reforms. (1) Is the minister aware that more than 140 recreational and commercial fishermen found time to attend the two meetings? (2) Is he aware that these fishermen have expressed frustration and disappointment that he did not attend? (3) Is he aware of the reported explanation from his spokeswoman that his attendance would have served only as a distraction. (4) Does he accept that his absence from such important meetings may leave local fishermen with the impression that he does not see their family livelihoods as a priority? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware of the comments. Unfortunately, The Geraldton Guardian printed a comment in an earlier article that I was to attend the meetings when it was never my intention to attend them. They were consultative meetings seeking the input of other people. My response has been to ask those people who put forward suggestions that we are particularly interested in them elaborating on those ideas and giving us the benefit of their knowledge for future management plans. There were two meetings in Geraldton - one targeted the commercial industry and the other targeted everybody and related particularly to recreational fishing rules. I do not go to every meeting in the consultative process. I have literally hundreds of consultative meetings a year. Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
(1) Is the minister aware that more than 140 recreational and commercial fishermen found time to attend the two meetings? (2) Is he aware that these fishermen have expressed frustration and disappointment that he did not attend? (3) Is he aware of the reported explanation from his spokeswoman that his attendance would have served only as a distraction. (4) Does he accept that his absence from such important meetings may leave local fishermen with the impression that he does not see their family livelihoods as a priority? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware of the comments. Unfortunately, The Geraldton Guardian printed a comment in an earlier article that I was to attend the meetings when it was never my intention to attend them. They were consultative meetings seeking the input of other people. My response has been to ask those people who put forward suggestions that we are particularly interested in them elaborating on those ideas and giving us the benefit of their knowledge for future management plans. There were two meetings in Geraldton - one targeted the commercial industry and the other targeted everybody and related particularly to recreational fishing rules. I do not go to every meeting in the consultative process. I have literally hundreds of consultative meetings a year. Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
(2) Is he aware that these fishermen have expressed frustration and disappointment that he did not attend? (3) Is he aware of the reported explanation from his spokeswoman that his attendance would have served only as a distraction. (4) Does he accept that his absence from such important meetings may leave local fishermen with the impression that he does not see their family livelihoods as a priority? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware of the comments. Unfortunately, The Geraldton Guardian printed a comment in an earlier article that I was to attend the meetings when it was never my intention to attend them. They were consultative meetings seeking the input of other people. My response has been to ask those people who put forward suggestions that we are particularly interested in them elaborating on those ideas and giving us the benefit of their knowledge for future management plans. There were two meetings in Geraldton - one targeted the commercial industry and the other targeted everybody and related particularly to recreational fishing rules. I do not go to every meeting in the consultative process. I have literally hundreds of consultative meetings a year. Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
(3) Is he aware of the reported explanation from his spokeswoman that his attendance would have served only as a distraction. (4) Does he accept that his absence from such important meetings may leave local fishermen with the impression that he does not see their family livelihoods as a priority? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware of the comments. Unfortunately, The Geraldton Guardian printed a comment in an earlier article that I was to attend the meetings when it was never my intention to attend them. They were consultative meetings seeking the input of other people. My response has been to ask those people who put forward suggestions that we are particularly interested in them elaborating on those ideas and giving us the benefit of their knowledge for future management plans. There were two meetings in Geraldton - one targeted the commercial industry and the other targeted everybody and related particularly to recreational fishing rules. I do not go to every meeting in the consultative process. I have literally hundreds of consultative meetings a year. Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
(4) Does he accept that his absence from such important meetings may leave local fishermen with the impression that he does not see their family livelihoods as a priority? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware of the comments. Unfortunately, The Geraldton Guardian printed a comment in an earlier article that I was to attend the meetings when it was never my intention to attend them. They were consultative meetings seeking the input of other people. My response has been to ask those people who put forward suggestions that we are particularly interested in them elaborating on those ideas and giving us the benefit of their knowledge for future management plans. There were two meetings in Geraldton - one targeted the commercial industry and the other targeted everybody and related particularly to recreational fishing rules. I do not go to every meeting in the consultative process. I have literally hundreds of consultative meetings a year. Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware of the comments. Unfortunately, The Geraldton Guardian printed a comment in an earlier article that I was to attend the meetings when it was never my intention to attend them. They were consultative meetings seeking the input of other people. My response has been to ask those people who put forward suggestions that we are particularly interested in them elaborating on those ideas and giving us the benefit of their knowledge for future management plans. There were two meetings in Geraldton - one targeted the commercial industry and the other targeted everybody and related particularly to recreational fishing rules. I do not go to every meeting in the consultative process. I have literally hundreds of consultative meetings a year. Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware of the comments. Unfortunately, The Geraldton Guardian printed a comment in an earlier article that I was to attend the meetings when it was never my intention to attend them. They were consultative meetings seeking the input of other people. My response has been to ask those people who put forward suggestions that we are particularly interested in them elaborating on those ideas and giving us the benefit of their knowledge for future management plans. There were two meetings in Geraldton - one targeted the commercial industry and the other targeted everybody and related particularly to recreational fishing rules. I do not go to every meeting in the consultative process. I have literally hundreds of consultative meetings a year. Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
(1)-(2) Yes, I am aware of the comments. Unfortunately, The Geraldton Guardian printed a comment in an earlier article that I was to attend the meetings when it was never my intention to attend them. They were consultative meetings seeking the input of other people. My response has been to ask those people who put forward suggestions that we are particularly interested in them elaborating on those ideas and giving us the benefit of their knowledge for future management plans. There were two meetings in Geraldton - one targeted the commercial industry and the other targeted everybody and related particularly to recreational fishing rules. I do not go to every meeting in the consultative process. I have literally hundreds of consultative meetings a year. Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
(3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
(4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
(1) Is the minister aware that more than 140 recreational and commercial fishermen found time to attend the two meetings? (2) Is he aware that these fishermen have expressed frustration and disappointment that he did not attend? (3) Is he aware of the reported explanation from his spokeswoman that his attendance would have served only as a distraction. (4) Does he accept that his absence from such important meetings may leave local fishermen with the impression that he does not see their family livelihoods as a priority? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware of the comments. Unfortunately, The Geraldton Guardian printed a comment in an earlier article that I was to attend the meetings when it was never my intention to attend them. They were consultative meetings seeking the input of other people. My response has been to ask those people who put forward suggestions that we are particularly interested in them elaborating on those ideas and giving us the benefit of their knowledge for future management plans. There were two meetings in Geraldton - one targeted the commercial industry and the other targeted everybody and related particularly to recreational fishing rules. I do not go to every meeting in the consultative process. I have literally hundreds of consultative meetings a year. Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
(2) Is he aware that these fishermen have expressed frustration and disappointment that he did not attend? (3) Is he aware of the reported explanation from his spokeswoman that his attendance would have served only as a distraction. (4) Does he accept that his absence from such important meetings may leave local fishermen with the impression that he does not see their family livelihoods as a priority? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware of the comments. Unfortunately, The Geraldton Guardian printed a comment in an earlier article that I was to attend the meetings when it was never my intention to attend them. They were consultative meetings seeking the input of other people. My response has been to ask those people who put forward suggestions that we are particularly interested in them elaborating on those ideas and giving us the benefit of their knowledge for future management plans. There were two meetings in Geraldton - one targeted the commercial industry and the other targeted everybody and related particularly to recreational fishing rules. I do not go to every meeting in the consultative process. I have literally hundreds of consultative meetings a year. Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
(3) Is he aware of the reported explanation from his spokeswoman that his attendance would have served only as a distraction. (4) Does he accept that his absence from such important meetings may leave local fishermen with the impression that he does not see their family livelihoods as a priority? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware of the comments. Unfortunately, The Geraldton Guardian printed a comment in an earlier article that I was to attend the meetings when it was never my intention to attend them. They were consultative meetings seeking the input of other people. My response has been to ask those people who put forward suggestions that we are particularly interested in them elaborating on those ideas and giving us the benefit of their knowledge for future management plans. There were two meetings in Geraldton - one targeted the commercial industry and the other targeted everybody and related particularly to recreational fishing rules. I do not go to every meeting in the consultative process. I have literally hundreds of consultative meetings a year. Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
(4) Does he accept that his absence from such important meetings may leave local fishermen with the impression that he does not see their family livelihoods as a priority? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware of the comments. Unfortunately, The Geraldton Guardian printed a comment in an earlier article that I was to attend the meetings when it was never my intention to attend them. They were consultative meetings seeking the input of other people. My response has been to ask those people who put forward suggestions that we are particularly interested in them elaborating on those ideas and giving us the benefit of their knowledge for future management plans. There were two meetings in Geraldton - one targeted the commercial industry and the other targeted everybody and related particularly to recreational fishing rules. I do not go to every meeting in the consultative process. I have literally hundreds of consultative meetings a year. Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware of the comments. Unfortunately, The Geraldton Guardian printed a comment in an earlier article that I was to attend the meetings when it was never my intention to attend them. They were consultative meetings seeking the input of other people. My response has been to ask those people who put forward suggestions that we are particularly interested in them elaborating on those ideas and giving us the benefit of their knowledge for future management plans. There were two meetings in Geraldton - one targeted the commercial industry and the other targeted everybody and related particularly to recreational fishing rules. I do not go to every meeting in the consultative process. I have literally hundreds of consultative meetings a year. Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware of the comments. Unfortunately, The Geraldton Guardian printed a comment in an earlier article that I was to attend the meetings when it was never my intention to attend them. They were consultative meetings seeking the input of other people. My response has been to ask those people who put forward suggestions that we are particularly interested in them elaborating on those ideas and giving us the benefit of their knowledge for future management plans. There were two meetings in Geraldton - one targeted the commercial industry and the other targeted everybody and related particularly to recreational fishing rules. I do not go to every meeting in the consultative process. I have literally hundreds of consultative meetings a year. Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
(1)-(2) Yes, I am aware of the comments. Unfortunately, The Geraldton Guardian printed a comment in an earlier article that I was to attend the meetings when it was never my intention to attend them. They were consultative meetings seeking the input of other people. My response has been to ask those people who put forward suggestions that we are particularly interested in them elaborating on those ideas and giving us the benefit of their knowledge for future management plans. There were two meetings in Geraldton - one targeted the commercial industry and the other targeted everybody and related particularly to recreational fishing rules. I do not go to every meeting in the consultative process. I have literally hundreds of consultative meetings a year. Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
Hon Brian Ellis interjected. Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
Hon JON FORD : As I said before, The Geraldton Guardian got it wrong. (3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
(3) I do not know which spokesperson made that comment, but I can imagine that person thinking that I might be a distraction because I tend to get up at meetings and talk a lot. As I said, these meetings were held to seek other people’s views. (4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
(4) It is very hard not to take offence at the part of the question about whether I am aware of people’s livelihoods. Every decision I make about the commercial industry affects somebody’s livelihood. If we regard it as a pie, I cannot make any allocation change without affecting somebody’s livelihood. It is a very serious business. More and more of the pie is disappearing under circumstances beyond my control at the moment, so we are bringing it back under control. I will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Western Australia, including those in the commercial industry. I take those considerations very seriously, as do all my colleagues.
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