Coral Sea fishers' call to arms
ANY notion last night's public meeting about the Coral Sea was not politically motivated was quickly scuttled with the chairman of the Australian Fishing and Lifestyle Party declaring it was "absolutely" a call to arms.
Alex Witten, who chaired the meeting in Cairns, said while the meeting aimed to keep people informed about developments regarding the Coral Sea conservation zone, there was an agenda.
"I am not hiding that, this is a political meeting," he said.
About 500 people attended the meeting at Cairns State High School’s Crosswell Hall and heard from speakers including Senator Ron Boswell and Far North Queensland chairman of Marine Queensland Wayne Bayne.
The party also used the meeting to unveil one of two Senate candidates for next year’s Federal election – Cairns orthopaedic surgeon Michael Mansfield.
Mr Bayne said many of those in attendance last night were concerned about a lack of consultation and what the conservation zone would mean for them.
"The fact is (the Government) are not consulting the original people or the local people," he said. "An example of that is the declaration of the conservation zone in the Coral Sea, which was done without consultation with the people who would be affected."
Mr Bayne said it did not make sense to implement the temporary conservation zone while scientific analysis was still pending.
He also did not back away from a political course of action.
"We want to get the public to be aware of what the situation is and to determine a way forward, whether that be negotiation, whether that be political action," he said.
CAFNEC marine campaigner Steve Ryan said sacrifices had to be made if the area was to be preserved.
"They are complaining about being demonised but no one is saying they are maliciously destroying the environment like they are implying," he said.
Mr Bayne, Mr Witten and Dr Mansfield said the conservation zone was shaping up as a key issue in Far North Queensland at next year’s Federal election.
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Opposed: Grant Rowe shows his feelings about a Coral Sea conservation zone. Picture: SEAN DAVEY
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