Claims that banning commercial net fishing is necessary to protect the Great Barrier Reef and tourism jobs ignores the human cost of unnecessary and harsh government intervention, and also raises serious national security questions for North Queensland.

Federal Shadow Minister for Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald, and Federal Shadow Environment Minister, Jonno Duniam, have warned lovers of Australian seafood, meat and produce that the Albanese Government’s determination to appease UNESCO will result in food shortages, higher costs and more pain for primary producers.