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GAIN Seeks Candidate Input on Policies for Local Employment Generation

Variety of political party representatives agree to present their agenda for the aquaculture industry in Victoria

By Gippsland Aquaculture Industry Network Inc. - 25th November 2002 - Back to News

GAIN announced today that a variety of political party representatives had agreed to present their agenda for the aquaculture industry in Victoria at Gippsland Aquaculture Industry Network Inc’s Annual Meeting scheduled for Friday 29th November, just ahead of the Victorian Elections.

Chairman of GAIN, Tony McLennan, said today "Whilst GAIN is apolitical given the potential for the aquaculture industry to create permanent high paid regional jobs it is timely that we should hear from those able to influence the regulatory environment for the industry prior to us going to the polls". He went on to note "The party’s policies are being put up on our website at www.growfish.com.au as they are made available for the community’s scrutiny".

Mr McLennan confirmed that all major parties, with the exception of the ALP, had agreed to participate in the discussion to be undertaken within the framework of the GAIN AGM, although it was still hoped that the ALP would be officially represented.

Senator Judith Troeth, Parliamentary Secretary for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is GAIN’s guest speaker for the meeting to be held at the NRE Conference Rooms in Hotham Street, Traralgon between 1.00 pm and 3.30 pm. Senator Troeth was invited to speak at GAIN’s meeting on the Federal Government’s view of the industry growth and direction.

This approach by GAIN follows the disappointing news from Executive Director of Victoria Fisheries, Richard McLoughlin, at GAIN’s September meeting that the Victorian Government intended that funding for aquaculture development would be directed to the Melbourne area for the foreseeable future. This policy direction seems set to continue the trend that has seen employment in the industry drop by 15% over the last 3 years whilst experiencing boom growth as the fastest growing agribusiness sector right across the country and internationally.

"This is an excellent opportunity for the general public to find out what plans our local ‘would be’ representatives have to address the fact that Victorian aquaculture production was barely 2% of the national production by value and that, other than in Gippsland, the industry was actually contracting based on Fisheries own figures", Mr McLennan said. "GAIN welcomes attendance at the AGM by any members of the general public with an interest in the development of high tech job opportunities for our young people".

For further information please contact: Tony McLennan, GAIN chairman 0408 513 500

GAIN Website & Newsletter www.growfish.com.au

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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