Something fishy about Minister Reece Whitby

WA environment minister Reece Whitby has taken a leaf from Mark McGowan’s media playbook in refusing to rule out an extension of the divisive south coast marine park to Albany, Denmark, Peaceful Bay, Nornalup, Walpole, Windy Harbour and Augusta.

In response to a request by Federal Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson MP to categorically rule out extensions to the fishing bans that Mr Whitby has imposed from the WA border west to Bremer Bay, Mr Whitby this week indicated only that he had “no plans” to elongate his fishing exclusion zones.

“In a draconian move that saw thousands of people take to the streets of Esperance in protest, Mr Whitby last month banned fishing in huge tracts of ocean in a thousand-kilometre stretch from the border to Bremer,” Mr Wilson said.

“Claiming he has no plans to extend his bans west to encompass the rest of the south coast avoided my direct request to him to rule out any more fishing bans in the next term of government if Labor is re-elected.

“His slipperiness is reminiscent of former premier Mark McGowan who in Albany ahead of the 2021 State election pledged no fewer than seven times that axeing regional representation in the State’s upper house was not on his agenda, and we all know what happened there the minute Labor was returned.”

In 2017, Mr Whitby, a two-time loser in the seat of Morley and Mr McGowan’s chief media staffer, became member for the new seat of Baldivis after being pre‑selected as the then-premier’s captain’s pick. In 2021, Mr Whitby was appointed to Cabinet, again as Captain McGowan’s pick.

“Mr Whitby is well-versed in the dark art of Labor spin-doctoring; he is trying to buy himself wriggle room by not ruling out a marine park extension if Labor is re-elected,” Mr Wilson said.

“In stark contrast, Liberal Shadow Minister for the Environment The Hon Neil Thomson MLC, in response to a recent letter from me, has categorically ruled out extending the marine park in the next term of parliament if the Liberals are elected to govern.

“I will not let Mr Whitby off the hook on this one, as there is too much at stake for the south coast’s commercial and recreational fishers whose livelihoods and lifestyles are at risk.”

Mr Wilson, whose federal electorate of O’Connor takes in virtually all of the state’s south coast, said fishers west of Bremer Bay had told him they had already been asked by State environment officials which of their fishing grounds they could do without.

“With anglers from across the state converging on the south coast for their Christmas break, now would have been a good time for Mr Whitby to rule out further bans,” Mr Wilson said.

“Failing to declare his banning ambition ahead of the March election is typical of arrogant WA Labor, which has abolished regional representation and could not care less about regional people and communities.”

Media contact: Chris Thomson: (08) 9842 2777, [email protected]