15/10/2026
Make your vote count people!
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VRFish is outraged that the Victorian Government has backflipped on a decades long promise that no new marine parks will be introduced or extended in Victoria.
Minster for Ports and Freight, Minister Horne, made the announcement on Wednesday that if re-elected she will expand the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary in Port Phillip, doubling the size of the existing area and locking recreational fishers out.
Victoria’s more than one-million recreational fishers have been blindsided by the decision. There has been no consultation with VRFish or any of the fishing clubs located in Williamstown, Newport and Altona, or spearfishing groups who have respectfully accessed the area for over 100 years.
The announcement by Minister Horne, a former Minister for Fishing and Boating, breaks long-standing Labor policy supported by successive Premiers, Agriculture and Environment Ministers for more than a decade.
Since 2014, the Victorian Labor Government has explicitly emphasised its policy to not introduce any new marine parks in Victoria, nor expand existing ones. Labor Ministers have gone to great lengths to communicate this policy directly with fishers.
If the marine park is expanded, recreational fishers will lose access to a popular fishery as marine parks prohibit recreational fishing of any kind.
Make no mistake – this is a new marine park and there’s no guarantee there won’t be more to come under this government. How can fishers trust a government who takes away our Minister, breaks its strongest promises and won’t consult with impacted user groups?
Read more on our website here: https://vrfish.com.au/2026/10/15/victorian-government-breaks-promise-of-no-new-marine-parks/
