All Fisheries Officer members across NSW will be taking industrial action from Midnight Wednesday 11 September 2024.

All members who are Fisheries Officers are directed by the General Secretary to implement the bans.

The Fisheries Officers Vocational Branch (FOVB) of the PSA voted overwhelmingly in support of taking immediate actions in their workplaces to protect themselves and their colleagues in the course of their work.

As of 11 September 2024, the membership are directed to cease fisheries compliance inspections (except without direct police assistance) of the high-risk work functions as specified below;

• (a) All Fisheries Officer members working in a coastal area, to cease inspections of estuary trawlers and offshore trawlers outside of daylight hours, and the inspection of ocean hauling and estuary hauling operations outside of daylight hours.
• (b) All Fisheries Officer members working in an inland area, to cease the inspection of all inland commercial fishing operations outside of daylight hours.

This action has been brought on by members’ extreme frustration at the Government and the Senior Management of their Department that have continued to refuse to provide appropriate protective and self-defence capabilities.

You cannot be punished for taking this action

Don’t forget, victimisation for being a union member and following the direction to undertake industrial action is illegal in NSW under the Industrial Relations Act 1996. Any member who feels they are being targeted or if you receive any type of threat for taking action you should contact PSA Member Support Centre immediately.

If issues are raised with you about your compliance with the direction to implement these bans, provide the person raising the issues with you with a copy of this bulletin and politely explain that you have been directed by your union to stop undertaking this unsafe work.