WA men charged over smelly protest at fishing minister’s office
“She’s put a real stink into a lot of people’s lives so that’s a bit of a message to her – a stink for her in her office,” Jones said.
“From what I heard, Margaret River can definitely smell it.”
Jones said he drove more than an hour with the shark heads and was not concerned about being prosecuted.
“(Police) can do what they want to me. I am going to fight for my kids. I’m going to fight for the future of our fishermen,” he said.
It is not yet confirmed if Jones is one of the men charged over the incident.
9 News reported the protest was linked to anger among some fishers over recent state government fishing restrictions, including bans on certain species.
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Tourism Minister Reece Whitby told a press conference on Tuesday morning that the ban was a tough, but necessary decision.
“I understand people are upset. But this was not an easy decision. We made the decision because it’s the right thing to do, because we need to have a sustainable fishery,” he said.
“We want to have those demersal species there in the future so that my grandkids and great-grandchildren can have those fish to put a line in and to have commercial industries still sustainable in the future.”
Advocacy group Fish For All met with government representatives on Monday, while Nationals leader Shane Love said he wanted the government to reassess the measures.
“Fishers across Western Australia have been blindsided by decisions made without genuine consultation, andmany feel their voices have been ignored,” he said.
Love has organised a fishing forum in Lancelin later this month to connect fishers and stakeholders concerned with the bans.
“(It will be) about listening directly to the people who are being affected — the commercial operators, recreational fishers, small businesses and families who rely on fishing for their livelihoods and their communities,” he said.
Jackie Jarvis’ office has been contacted for comment.
