KATTER’S AUSTRALIAN PARTY

3/138 Buchanan Road | PO Box 386 | Banyo Qld 4014 | P: 07 3267 7799 | F: 07 3267 0650 | E: myausparty@ausparty.org.au

1. The Queensland Fish and Wildlife Authority

The charter of the Queensland Fish and Wildlife Authority will be to promote and facilitate safe and sustainable fish and wildlife activities throughout the State. The Authority will:

 Re-establish and manage a licensed duck hunting season in the State.

 Establish a system of using licensed and accredited shooters to provide humane feral pest culling and control on government lands where it is safe and appropriate to do so. The overriding objective of the program will be to avoid the use of poisoning programs wherever possible and ensure government lands are not used to provide uncontrolled breeding areas for disease carrying feral pests. Active protection of native flora and fauna will be central to the program’s ethos.

 Support private organisations with objectives consistent with the Authority’s charter.

 Avoid government-funded culling or eradication programs if volunteer networks can be more cost effectively deployed.

 Support a wild venison industry.

 Support export of wild game products.

 Promote fish and wildlife tourism.

 Establish and promote “Net Free” or “Recreational Only” fishing areas around all large cities and towns on the coast, and smaller communities if desired.

 Manage tailor, Australian salmon and all trevally species as recreational-only fishing.

 Develop freshwater fisheries to a higher standard in order to grow regional tourism.

 Remove existing green zones where there is no evidence-based justification for their existence.

 Implement and promote a “one line one hook” fishing policy in remaining green zones and marine parks where there is no threat to biodiversity.

Initial staff recruiting for the newly created Authority will be sourced from existing Queensland public servants. This will provide new career opportunities for public servants with a genuine passion for fish and wildlife activities, whilst ensuring no additional wage burden for the people of Queensland.

Upon forming government, the KAP will undertake a survey of available Queensland government office space and a final decision will be made on the physical location of the authority based on relevant proximity to key stakeholders, proximity to managed resources, overall benefit to a particular community and the consideration of best value for the Queensland tax payer.

A legislative review team will be established to identify required amendments to existing Queensland legislation and changes to other departmental jurisdictions to ensure the free and effective functioning of the Authority.

LP