‘I’ve basically annoyed everyone’: WA minister’s anger over fishing ban threats

West Australian Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis has delivered an emotional speech in parliament after being subjected to threats which included shark heads and fish guts being dumped outside her office in protest of a controversial fishing ban.

Speaking during discussions surrounding an inquiry into the state of WA’s fisheries, Jarvis claimed the opposition had backed in commercial fishers “who have been difficult to deal with” – a statement vehemently denied by the Nationals, who have been strong advocates for the inquiry.

On Wednesday, after several hours of debate, all political parties threw their support behind that inquiry for differing reasons.

Jarvis said she had “nothing to hide”, which was why she would support the motion, but held particular ire for protesters who had threatened her family and her staff.

“To stand there and support fishers who have made threats against my family, to stand there to support fishers who have dumped shark heads at my door, where my staff have to deal with that,” she said.

“I came to Perth to meet with commercial fishers on December 28. I said I would meet them at any time, and as I’m driving to Perth, they’re driving to my office to dump 200 [kilograms] of shark heads at the door for my staff to deal with.

“Before that, deckhands employed by commercial fishers making threats to my husband’s business, to people who work for my husband.

“You guys continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with people who attack my family, who attack people who are completely unrelated to this.”

Jarvis said she was emotional, but also understood it had been “incredibly emotional for commercial fishers”.

“I get that I have caused significant pain to this industry. I couldn’t see a way out. I genuinely couldn’t see a way out and so I’ve done what I’ve done,” she said.

Nationals MLC Steve Thomas told parliament none of his colleagues “accept the personalisation of this argument”.

“Robust debate is required. None of us accept the horrible things that you may have been exposed to and we certainly do not encourage it,” he said.

“The fisheries ministry is probably the worst ministry you can get in the West Australian government – you’ve probably offended somebody because you never have good news.

“You are the minister for bad news and misery. It is a tough job, and you should never be abused for it.”

Jarvis urged the Nationals to reveal an alternative policy if they had one, suggesting during the inquiry would be the perfect time to do so.

“Have a policy … look at the science, just don’t say you don’t believe in the science,” sh