Snapper Fishery Ban

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (15:19): Today, I rise to talk about the proposed snapper fishery ban here in South Australia. Early in August, two options were put on the table when it came to snapper fishing in South Australia. The first option was a three-year statewide snapper closure for all sectors from 1 October 2019 to 28 February 2023. The second option was a total snapper closure for the waters of the West Coast, Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent from 1 October 2019 to 28 February 2023.

In announcing those two options and putting them on the table, no consultation occurred with the commercial fishing sector, which was taken by surprise. The 309 licence holders in this state and their families were not involved in consultation about these particular options. The 277,000 recreational fishers in this state were not consulted in related to the options that were put on the table. The charter industry was not consulted about the options put on the table and regional communities and businesses, partly dependent on snapper as a fishery, were not consulted. In announcing the two options, the minister said:

The science shows drastic action is required to protect snapper stocks and for the future of this fishery, unlike the former Labor Government we will not take a back seat and watch this species decline.

I will get onto the science in a few minutes, but I will just say that we have called for an independent scientific review of the science that underpins the options that are being put on the table. Good science is an open process and there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a look at the methodology and the conclusions drawn, given the potentially serious impact on a range of sectors the proposed bans have, so the minister should actually welcome our call to have a look at the underpinning science and support an independent scientific review.

The minister indicated that the Labor government just sat back and did nothing in relation to snapper. Nothing could be further from the truth. During the term of the Labor government, a whole range of initiatives were commenced in relation to snapper. There was the reduction in bag limits, the introduction of commercial daily quotas and the introduction of seasonal closures. There was the introduction of closures around spawning aggregations and there was a proposal that had gone through cabinet as a result of a two-year consultation process with the commercial and recreational fishing industry to seriously restructure the snapper fishing industry and the fishing industry in this state. There was a multimillion dollar package tied to that particular proposal. We said at the time when in government:

In the biggest fisheries shake-up in decades, the State Government will spend $20 million to buy back up to a third of South Australia's Marine Scalefish fishing licences.

This will help to ensure snapper, whiting and garfish stocks are available for future generations of South Australians to catch and enjoy.

The multi-million structural reform package will provide better access for recreational fishers, economic viability for commercial fishers and greater sustainability for the fishery overall.

In conjunction with the buyback, we were also going to introduce zoning and additional quotas beyond the daily quotas that were already in place. The proposals had the support of the commercial fishing sector. What did the minister do when this government was elected? He scrapped them. He sat on his hands and did nothing.

It is very interesting that it is R U OK? Day today because the stress that people within the commercial fishing sector have been subjected to as a result of the failure of this government to act in a sensible fashion is enormous, so you should hang your head in shame. A lot of work had been done. A platform had been provided for you to build on and what did you do? You burnt that platform.