TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2023
Fishers urged to follow the rules or cop the penalties
Determined efforts to enforce Queensland fisheries laws have helped to protect fish stocks and the thousands of good jobs that rely on them. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said new figures for 2022 show the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol issued almost 500 Penalty Infringement Notices incurring fines of more than $270,000 in total. There were 17 court prosecutions finalised resulting in a further $68,700 in financial penalties. QBFP officers also issued 754 official cautions over the course of 2022 as part of an education process to help fishers comply with the laws. In far north Queensland there were 69 infringements and 103 cautions issued in North Queensland and 47 infringements and 93
cautions. “Queensland’s fisheries regulations are in place to ensure fish stocks are sustainable, because we want our children and grandchildren to enjoy fishing as much as we do,” Mr Furner said. “And there are thousands of good jobs supported by recreational fishing, from bait and tackle shops to boating and tourism businesses such as charter services and accommodation. “The vast majority of fishers make it their business to know the rules and to follow them, and my heartfelt thanks go out to those who do the right thing. “With a compliance rate of almost 90 per cent, it is only a small percentage of fishers who are breaking the rules and threatening the livelihoods of those businesses that benefit from recreational fishing.” Mr Furner also thanked the officers of the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol.
“The work our officers do can be dangerous and often takes place in tough conditions,” Mr Furner said. “I met a new group of graduating officers just before Christmas and their passion and commitment to protecting fishing for Queenslanders was great to see. “Remember, when you see our QBFP officers on the water they are protecting fish stocks so you and your families can continue to enjoy fishing.” Report any suspected illegal fishing activity to the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116. For more information on Queensland fishing rules, visit www. fisheries.qld.gov.au, call 13 25 23 or download the free Qld Fishing 2.0 app from Apple and Google app stores. Follow Fisheries Queensland on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@ FisheriesQld).
Funding to help stamp out costly illegal dumping
The State Government has announced funding to help tackle illegal dumping in the Torres Strait and Cape York in the latest round of Illegal Dumping Grants. Member for Cook Cynthia Lui (pictured top right) said five councils, including NPARC and TSIRC, would receive up to $200,000 each to fund new illegal dumping officer resources, also creating nine new jobs. “Illegal dumping isn’t just an eyesore, it’s harmful to our environment and costs council – and in turn ratepayers – a fair chunk of money
to clean up,” Ms Lui said. “Locals have made it clear this kind of activity is unacceptable, which is why I’m proud that our government is providing this critical funding. “Importantly, we want to encourage Queenslanders to recycle, which is why we’re also investing $1.1 billion to drive resource recovery and sustainability across the state. “That funding will help councils ramp up their recycling capabilities as well as support the industry investment and behaviour change across Queensland.”
NEWS 05 Learning opportunities available for free from TAFE – for all of 2023 School leavers and people in Regional Queensland wanting to retrain, upskill and re-enter the workforce are being encouraged to enrol in one of the over 37,000 Fee-Free TAFE and VET places on offer in Queensland in 2023. From 1 January – 31 December 2023, eligible Queenslanders will be able to undertake Fee Free TAFE. Along with tackling skills shortages, these places will benefit the people of Regional Queensland by providing opportunities for school leavers and people wanting to retrain or upskill – to get back into the workforce. Senator for Queensland, Nita Green said it was an investment in the people of Regional Queensland. “If you’re thinking about going to TAFE now is the best time to do it,” she said. For more information, for online offered courses, and to enrol, visit www.
Subjects available for fee-free study across the Far North Queensland TAFE campuses include:
• Diploma of Information • Diploma of Early Childhood Technology Education and Care • Diploma of Nursing (*only • Certificate III in Early available for First Nations Childhood Education and Australians, people with a Care disability, and people from a • Certificate IV in Aboriginal linguistically and/or culturally and/or Torres Strait Islander diverse background.) Primary Health Care Practice • Diploma of Visual Arts • Certificate IV in Accounting • Certificate III in Conservation and Bookkeeping and Ecosystem Management • Certificate IV in Child, Youth • III in Aboriginal Certificate and Family Intervention and/or Torres Strait Islander • Certificate III in Business Primary Health Care • Certificate IV in Community • Certificate III in Health Services Services Assistance • Diploma of Music • Certificate IV in Justice • Certificate III in Horticulture Studies • Certificate III in Visual Arts • Certificate IV in Cyber • Certificate III in Landscape Security Construction • Certificate III in Pathology • BAS Agent Registration Skill Collection Set • Diploma of Business • Certificate III in Community • Certificate III in Health Services Administration • Certificate III in Information • Certificate IV in Health Technology Administration • Certificate III in Hospitality • Diploma of Leadership and • Diploma of Community Management Services • Certificate III in School Based • Certificate II in Kitchen Education Support Services • Certificate IV in School Based • Certificate III in Individual Education Support Support (Ageing) tafeqld.edu.au/courses/ • Certificate II in Maritime 19x4 colour ad (*FY July 2022 5% increase) 12 ad booking $295.26incl + 15% RHP posn. Loading $339.25inc apply-and-enrol/ • Certificate III rate: in Individual Operations (Coxswain Grade [$308.41ex] per ad - dropped to flat rate $335incl [$304.55ex] x12 $4020incl. 1 Near Coastal) Support (Disability) subsidised-training/fee2nd Thursday of month. PROOF EMAILED E _______/22 -- DEADLINE ____________/22 free-tafe Christina Koullas <christina@ckpr.com.au> OR ‘Chris Foord’ <gmanager@bament.com.au> + Amy Gardner <amy@ckpr.com.au>
TN0306 [RHP___] 09/02/23 AdsIN E
Bamaga Enterprises Ltd February Update
BEL backs youth fitness in NPA by sponsoring futsal program The inclusive indoor sport of futsal con�nues to bring together children in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA). Through Bamaga Enterprises Ltd’s (BEL) sponsorship, Torres and Cape Indigenous Futsal Associa�on (TCIFA) was able to set up five community sessions over December and January for more than 50 children from the NPA.
NPA kids engaged in inclusive indoor sport, futsal.
the ac�vity leader, says it has been a great opportunity for the children in NPA to par�cipate in the group sport a�er last year’s COVID outbreak put a damper on ac�vi�es.
Cairns-based TCIFA co-founder Eugene Orwell was provided with $1,647 to cover his accommoda�on and travel expenses to facilitate the sessions “Kids in the NPA don’t across Bamaga, Umagico have sports clubs they and Seisia. can go to on a regular Mr Orwell, who is also basis. Our aim is not
only to establish the ac�vity in NPA, but also find local adults who can support it on a weekly basis,” Mr Orwell says. Through its Socio Support Policy, BEL has invested over $3.5 million back into the community.
seeking assistance with costs in the areas of sports/recrea�on ac�vi�es, aged support, medical assistance, educa�on or training, arts and culture, religion, community infrastructure, and other general requests.
Various sponsorships are available for those
Visit our website for more details.
Bamaga Enterprises Ltd, Rural Transaction Centre, Adidi Street, Bamaga QLD 4876 • Ph 4069 3533 • www.bament.com.au
