Hansard debates

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Roads, Minister for Road Safety and the TAC, Minister for Fishing and Boating) (12:19): Last Friday I was in beautiful Lakes Entrance to officially launch the Golden Tag competition.

Ms Crozier interjected.

Ms PULFORD: Sorry, what are you on about?

Ms Crozier: Did you meet the loggers?

Ms PULFORD: I met many, many people in our timber industry. The Golden Tag competition is 1000 fish worth up to $10 000 each, which is all about luring recreational fishers back to East Gippsland and the north-east. Fish have been tagged and placed in lakes, rivers and estuaries, and they include trout, Murray cod, black bream and dusky flathead, among others. The first 10 fishers who report a capture take home a cheque for $10 000. We have already had three lucky anglers announced. After the first 10, subsequent captures will net the lucky fisher a $2000 cash prize.

Recreational fishing in the north-east and Gippsland is worth more than $600 million annually and supports over 3800 jobs. Fishing makes a substantial contribution to regional economies and local jobs. However, bushfires have reduced visitor numbers substantially during what is a typically very busy time of year for motels, pubs, caravan parks and retailers. The Golden Tag competition will change that by encouraging fishers to return with family and friends to wet a line, share time together in Victoria’s great outdoors and potentially take home the catch of a lifetime.

The Golden Tag competition is an innovative way to get people back to towns that have been doing it tough. Indeed Frank Milito, who runs the Bass Strait Bait & Tackle store at Lakes, and many others in this industry, have been very, very busy since the announcement of the competition. Now that the roads are open and these communities are getting back on their feet and welcoming visitors, it is a wonderful opportunity for Victoria’s rec fishers to support our bushfire-affected communities, pay them a visit and have a great time.