Thursday, 12 September 2024

 Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (14:35): The Allan Labor government is continuing to make Victoria a fishing paradise. We stock more fish in Victoria than every other state and territory combined. We are supporting our native species to recover, and our anglers have never caught more fish. In Melbourne we have just put in a thousand enormous trout across 17 waterways to give anglers a chance to land the fish of a lifetime. These fish are out there waiting to be caught right now at Albert Park Lake, the Pakenham lake and Karkarook Lake in Moorabbin. Junior fishers will be able to get into the action using their free little angler kits, delivered to schoolchildren right across Victoria earlier this year. It is all supported by the Allan Labor government’s $96 million investment to help Victorians make memories together on the water for generations to come. We are stocking millions of fish –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Point Cook can leave the chamber for half an hour. Member for Eureka and member for Cranbourne, you are warned.

Member for Point Cook withdrew from chamber.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, this minister, again, is reading, and I would ask you to ask him to table his script.

The SPEAKER: Is the minister reading? The minister is referring to notes.

Steve DIMOPOULOS: We are also investing in regional waterways. There was a recent report around Rocklands Reservoir, near the Grampians: almost tripled, with 50 per cent more visitors, the economic value; 80 per cent of people reported going there and fishing as part of their visit. This weekend we saw the return of free fishing festivals in Ballarat and Eildon, with stalls, demos and classes for kids.

My only regret is I did not raise this matter last sitting week, because I know there are some opposite who love a good fishing expedition. I hear someone has been casting some lines of his own. He has been fishing for donations, but sadly there have not been many bites. But for those seeking to improve, worry not: the member for Bellarine will be happy to have you down on Sunday 13 October, when the free Hooked on Bellarine festival returns. There are fish for everyone, from big waterways like Lake Eildon and Port Phillip Bay to the small shark-infested pond that those opposite dwell in.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Eureka will leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Eureka withdrew from chamber.