Operation 'please explain'

Ocean Defence teams up with Surfrider to get some explanations.

Ocean Defence began earlier this year as a group of surfers disappointed that surfing appeared to be excluded from Australian ocean policy. Now its all go - with the doors opening to the public Monday 7 September. At Ocean Defence, professional surfing activist, Andrew Campbell is putting the finishing touches to the draft Surfing Reserves project which will be available for public comment later this month.

Andrew Campbell says, "Ocean Defence wants government decision-makers to understand the surfing perspective. Surfing is a big industry in Australia and Tasmania and the surfable wave should be considered an important resource. Ocean Defence is putting together an issues paper for the whole surfing community to consider. Surfers will decide how they want their best surf spots looked after.

"Ocean Defence is supported by public donation and plans to keep it that way and is committed to not accepting government or non-surfing corporate sponsorship. Ocean Defence is very cynical of government allowing Telstra money to be used to paint a false picture of environmental harmony.

"We have received enormous initial support from door knocking Tasmanians in Hobart. Thankyou to everyone who has supported us so far. People are very generous when they see others getting up and doing something they believe in. Nearly everyone we meet is concerned about the issues Ocean Defence are talking about and we aren't noticing the so-called public apathy we were warned about."

Now, with the coming election, Ocean Defence has teamed up with the Surfrider Foundation to ask our politicians to PLEASE EXPLAIN (but surfboards are a bit too big to put in the post, so letters will have to do for now).

Ocean Defence's chairperson and lawyer, Michael Morehead says, "Operation Please Explain is all about putting ocean and social justice issues on the election agenda. There are 2.3 million surfers in Australia whose first interest is the ocean and we have written to all the leaders of the political parties to ask them to respond to some key questions.

"Latest figures in the Australia's Oceans Policy - An Issues Paper reveal that commercial fishing and aquaculture contribute $1.8 billion to the Australian economy, the offshore petroleum industry $7.8 billion and the domestic marine tourism and recreation industry $15.2 billion. Surfing contributes around $5 billion to the Australian economy, entitling 2.3 million surfers to have a say in any decisions made."

"We are asking our politicians to please explain. Please explain why the ocean falls under so many different jurisdictions - its very easy for no one to accept responsibility. Please explain why a National Oceans Commission is not a good step in the right direction. Please explain why there is no acknowledgment of the integrity of ocean, coastal and land system use in Aboriginal culture. And please explain where the Natural Heritage Trust is going."

Surfrider Foundation National Director, Michael Paxton says,
"Surfers are calling on the government to take responsibility for the damage caused to the oceans under their collective stewardship. Its not enough to say 'it's a community problem, here is a little money to fix it'. When you consider the love for the ocean that is shared by 2.3 million surfers you realise that it is important for surfers to take a stand. Surfrider welcomes all the help it can get and is impressed at Ocean Defence's prospects."

"Surfrider Foundation and surfers generally recognise the close connection to and importance of the ocean to Aboriginal Australia and are disgusted that the Australia's Oceans Policy issues paper pays lip service to indigenous rights and interests."

"This definitely is the time for surfers and ocean users to become members of Surfrider there are many Australians who don't regard tax reform as the only issue for this election."

Ocean Defence and the Surfrider Foundation agree - right now is the time for all Australians, especially surfers, to ask the political parties to please explain.

For further information contact Michael Morehead Ocean Defence Fund Trust, 1a Victoria Street, Hobart Tasmania 7000. Phone: (03) 6224 9533 Fax: (03) 6224 9532 Email: oceandefence@hotmail.com