Marine Scalefish Fishery Reform

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (15:23): My question is to the same minister. Will the minister commit to reopening the voluntary buyback scheme on the conclusion of the exceptional circumstances process for those fishers who have a better understanding about their viability in the fishery going forward?

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM (Finniss—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:24): I thank the member for Narungga for his question. Of the 132 who have already applied for exceptional circumstances, some of them did that conditionally with still having on the table their ability to surrender but still be assessed to see whether they could have the quotas increased. Certainly, that group very much has it on the table as an opportunity to access those funds.

Likewise, as part of conditions, an offer is going out to some fishers to whom it may be appropriate to be offering the opportunity to surrender. There is only a limited total of $24½ million worth of funds allocated to this, so it won't be available to the whole fishery as such, but certainly there will be opportunity for some to access it.