The NZ First Fisheries Bill is a punch in the face to the entire recreational fishing community
When even Government MPs start wobbling, you know something’s gone wrong. The Fisheries Amendment Bill is fast becoming one of the most politically volatile pieces of legislation this term — not just because of what it changes, but because of who it appears to favour.
How bad does the corruption of a law need to be before National Party backbench MPs have the balls to say enough?
The new Fisheries bill by Shane Jones!
When even National starts to blink
National MPs threaten to withdraw support for fisheries bill
National backbenchers have threatened that the party will vote against a government bill at second reading, if changes are not made.
Fisheries Minister Shane Jones was last week forced to back down from what the Prime Minister called the “most egregious” part of the Fisheries Amendment Bill – scrapping minimum size limits for snapper – after an uproar from recreational fishers.
Stuff
Isn’t it hilarious that Shane’s biggest issue is that he is being framed as a pimp for commercial fishing, when that is exactly what he is?
She also responded to a commenter who said Jones should be removed as Minister as he “cannot manage his conflicts”.
“I couldn’t comment on that, but thanks for commenting,” Weenink wrote.
Jones took exception to this, alleging Weenink was “agreeing with some very derogatory comments against my good self”.
In a statement, Weenink told Stuff: “I replied to several comments.” She has not responded to every comment on the post.
Jones says he will be escalating a complaint to the Prime Minister.
“The distant reaches of the National Party backbench are a long way from my wheelhouse. However, my leader’s office will take that matter up with the Prime Minister’s office because we treat our coalition agreements with a deal of seriousness, and I just think a bit of discipline is needed at the moment.”
The audacity of this windbag!
Public sources suggest NZ First and Shane Jones have received over $100,000 in donations over the last decade. It is deeply problematic for a Political Party who receives that level of donations from an industry to then legislate in a way that directly benefits that industry?
That undersized catch rule has been overturned, but there are many other deeply problematic elements of this Fisheries Amendment Bill.
Who is this law actually for?
It will allow more destructive bottom trawling.
The public will be limited from public consultation on fisheries decisions
And It blocks public access to the footage from cameras on boats.
Who is this law being written for? Because right now, it doesn’t look like the public. The protection of our fisheries or the interests of commercial fishing?
When it is so one-sided the way this is, even National Party MPs balk at the greed!
The new laws go so far as to rule that any one who publishes footage from cameras on boats that show environmental damage or breaches of rules will be fined $50,000. So not only is the public locked out of public consultation, we aren’t allowed to see the camera footage and anyone who publishes footage highlighting abuse by commercial fishing will be fined $50,000!
I’ve already decided that if this law passes and if I get sent footage off the cameras showing environmental damage or illegal catch, I most certainly am publishing it and I’ll see Matua Jones in Court!
This has become a free speech issue as much as it is an environmental issue now!
The recreational fishing community, many of whom are simply catching kai for the whanau, have never been the problem in NZ when it comes to our fishing stock, the commercial fishing industry is!
To allow a bill with this many fish hooks for everyone else other than commercial fishing is so outrageous.
Look, when even backbench National MPs can see it, you know it’s bad.
Shane Jones is acting in a way that overwhelmingly favours commercial fishing interests, he has rolled up with a Fisheries bill that is totally pro Industry and the real cost of the environment and the recreational fishing community.
Even nutter anti-vax, trans-hating NZ First hate trolls must admit what he’s proposing is totally unacceptable!
Look, our fisheries are special, unique and amazing. There is plenty to go around for everyone, why allow commercial fishing interests buy their own legislation?
We haven’t fallen that far as a people have we?
Tell Shane he’s bitten off way more than he can chew and NZ laws are not up for sale!
So Jones has has to his lollies stolen and is now going to run to daddy crying 😢…
sounds about right.
The major flaw in Jone’s character is he truly believes his intellect is superior to the rest of us! He is a giant blow-hard, super egotistical and can quickly become a “bore”. Everything he introduces needs to be minutely checked for corruption, misinformation and outright lies. What a SHAME with more self-control, less arrogance and vanity, he could have made a really good ‘leader’ and certainly could never have been as bad as Luxon. So his fisheries bill isn’t just a punch in the face for recreational fishing but for commonsense, transparency and honesty. Shouldn’t we be outing those who bribed him? Why not? Time something bit him in the backside.