Rock Lobster Industry

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (14:51): My question is to the Premier. Could the Premier please inform the house on when he expects the lobster trade to open for our southern rock lobster zone, and probably even the northern rock lobster zone, and when prices from China will benefit our fishers and lobster fishers around the state?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:52): I thank the leader of the—sorry.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I thank a man who has all the character that is required of any leader in this place and, indeed, the member for MacKillop for his question. The member for MacKillop has drawn the house's attention to a significant development in recent weeks where the lobster trade into China has now been permitted again, with tariffs being lifted. This is, I understand, being put in place in advance of the Chinese New Year celebrations. The advice that we have received is that that timeline will be facilitated so as to maximise the exposure and the opportunity so that lobster fishers in both the southern and northern zones get access to the Chinese market at that critical time of the year.

I had the great pleasure, as the member for MacKillop is aware, to be in his electorate and the member for Mount Gambier's electorate only a couple of weeks ago, right at the very beginning of the month. I took the opportunity to be at the Blessing of the Fleet celebration at Robe, which, of course, is home to a significant number of rock lobster fishermen and fisherwomen. I went out on a vessel with a gentleman who I know the member for MacKillop knows well, and we were discussing with him and also his deckhands the importance of the Chinese market in really getting that premium in place. That was a visit I did down there literally only days ahead of the announcement that was made at a federal level.

Can I take this opportunity to commend the commonwealth for their mature and sophisticated approach in terms of engagement with the People's Republic of China. They have done it in a way that is uncompromising in respect of Australian values but consistent with our economic interests and that of working people in our state. Minister Penny Wong and Minister Farrell have, I think, had a very considered and deliberate approach in terms of engagement with China that has been to the benefit of South Australia quite substantially, obviously with wine and also in respect of rock lobster.

It was critical that the commonwealth navigate a path that did not compromise critical Australian values, that stood strong on a range of different positions that are of concern to us as a nation, but that also sought to engage: 'Where we agree where we can, and disagree when we must', I think was the phrase that has been coined. That has now delivered results, where essentially all the tariffs that were having a significant imposition on South Australian produce have been lifted, and we are now going to see that play out in a meaningful way.

The member for Mount Gambier was very enthusiastic about drawing this to my attention, certainly in my time as Leader of the Opposition. The state government is obviously taking measures, including licence fee relief—which I am happy to say was exclusively on the back of the advocacy of the member for Mount Gambier. That was temporary by nature, and really falls by the wayside relative to the burden that missing out on a market as big as China represented.

This is a positive development, and the advice we have is that it will be in place in advance of the Chinese New Year. I am more than happy to see if we cannot furnish ourselves with a precise date, and make sure that the member for MacKillop is engaged with that detail once we are in receipt of it.