THE Queensland Net Free Zones (NFZs) buyback scheme has come under fire after it was revealed by the ABC that some pro fishermen hadn’t actually stopped fishing.
76-year-old Wally Keating was paid $210,000 by the Queensland state government for his net-fishing license but has continued to fish using his son’s license.
Keating says the deal he got wasn’t enough to stop working and the government should’ve paid him around half a million dollars for his license and equipment including boats and nets.
Keating agrees with the assessment that he is exploiting a loophole but argues that it’s a free enterprise system and he is entitled to continue because he isn’t breaking any laws.
Watch the full six-minute video report by 7:30 here.
