2025 federal election: Bipartisan support for waterway restoration is a win for fish and rec fishing
As Australia prepares to go to the polls this weekend, OzFish welcomes the pre-electoral commitments from both major parties to expand the fish habitat charity’s vital work across the nation.
In April, the Liberal Party pledged $6 million towards expanding OzFish’s work in Tasmania, and across Australia. Earlier in the month, the Labor party announced $1.5 million towards oyster reef restoration in Moreton Bay, $600,000 to restore salt marshes in rivers and lakes in New South Wales and a further $1.5 million for waterway restoration in Cairns.
OzFish CEO Cassie Price said, “Bipartisan political support for OzFish’s community-led projects and programs restoring waterways and habitats, shows us that all sides of politics understand the importance of caring for Australia’s fish – and rec fishers.”
“We welcome the announcement by Shadow Minister for the Environment, Fisheries and Forestry, Jonathon Duniam, and Liberal Candidate for Braddon, Mal Hingston, of a pre-election pledge of $6 million for OzFish to increase our efforts across the country. If delivered, the investment will go towards supporting rec fishers with new aquatic restoration works in every state and territory in Australia, including Tasmania, with projects that can include shellfish reef restoration, seagrass, saltmarsh, jetty habitats, mangrove planting, tackling pest species, rubbish removal and more.”
“We are thrilled by the $1.5 million pledged by Labor Candidate for Bonner, Kara Cook, that would allow us to do more for oysters and water health in Moreton Bay. We thank the Senator for Queensland and Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, Nita Green, for her pledge of $1.5 million that would expand on the good work already begun on mangrove, seagrass and shellfish reef restoration. Finally, we welcome the Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips’ pre-election promise of $600,000 towards supporting saltmarshes in Lake Illawarra, Burrill Lake and the Clyde River.”
OzFish has called on all political parties contesting the 2025 Australian federal election to commit to four federal fixes for fish.
The fish habitat charity, soon to celebrate its first decade, also invited MPs to take a break from campaigning and come fishing with locals in their electorate’s waterways. This offer was taken up by Independent Member for Indi Helen Haines, Independent Senator Tammy Tyrrell, and Independent Member for Cowper Caz Heise.
Ms Price said, “Australia’s fish and fish habitats have been hit hard over the last century, including recent fish kills in New South Wales and South Australia.”
“Urgent work must be undertaken to restore our waterways, and to help them be resilient to a rapidly changing climate – and that’s where OzFish come in. Solutions to complex issues aren’t simple. But we’ve got the science behind us, a legion of volunteers ready to get their hands dirty, and we’re ready to go.”
Ms Price encouraged rec fishers, and all Australians keen to lend a hand, to join OzFish and get involved with one of its 100+ active community-led projects across the country.
“We know Australia loves its oceans, rivers, creeks and lakes, and its fishing. Join us in shoring up the future of the places and activities we enjoy, so future generations can enjoy them too.”
For almost a decade, OzFish has brought scientists, government, organisations and communities together to give recreational fishers and other passionate locals the tools, inspiration and support to restore their own local waterways and fish habitats.
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For more information, photos, or to interview Ms Price, or local OzFishers, please contact [email protected] or +61 406 132 948.