Fisheries petition tabled

A PETITION aiming to stop proposed cuts to the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) has landed in Parliament.

Victorian Liberal Party deputy leader Sam Groth tabled the petition with more than 21,000 signatures on Thursday last week.

“I ask on behalf of the 21,000 Victorians that signed by petition, that it be made an order on the day on the next day of sitting,” Mr Groth said in Parliament.

In February this year, the VFA proposed a significant restructure that would see staffing numbers cut from 192 to 157 and stations across the state closed.

Under the proposal, Queenscliff station would partly close and be replaced with a public facing-community hub in St Leonards.

In a video posted to his Facebook, Mr Groth criticised the state Labor government for cutting jobs.

“These guys do an incredible job to protect the marine diversity and police the fishery offences here in Victoria.”

Bellarine Labor MP Alison Marchant also met with advocates on the steps of Parliament House last week to show her support.

The proposed cuts have caused concern in the community with fears it will leave the state’s fish stocks, marine parks and wildlife species open to illegal fishing.

The petition has been listed in the Order of Business to be considered when Parliament returns on Tuesday, May 27.