SOUTHERN BLUEFIN TUNA INDUSTRY

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (14:45): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question about the South Australian southern bluefin tuna industry.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: The southern bluefin tuna industry is a significant contributor to this state's economy, with the government working closely with the sector to make business processes easier. Will the minister update the chamber on the work the government and the industry are undertaking to benefit the southern bluefin tuna industry?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:45): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I am very pleased to advise the South Australian tuna industry that it is set to benefit from a project that will reduce red tape for business and deliver savings to the industry as part of the Premier's public sector reform program.

The legislative processes between PIRSA and the EPA will be streamlined to decrease the time it takes for licences to be assessed between government agencies. I am advised that licensing, monitoring and reporting arrangements for the South Australian tuna industry are currently regulated by a number of pieces of legislation, including the Aquaculture Act 2001, the Fisheries Management Act 2007, the Livestock Act 1997 and the Environment Protection Act, and involve both PIRSA and EPA officers.

By working with industry on this project, both agencies are of the view that they can streamline these administrative arrangements to provide much greater benefits for the industry. The streamlining regulation of South Australia's tuna industry project will include representatives from the Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association, PIRSA, the EPA and the public sector reform program. The project aims to develop agreed administrative positions, achieve reduced regulatory red tape, reduce duplication between agencies, develop a more streamlined administrative process, improve sharing between government agencies, and develop an even stronger collaboration between government and industry.

I am advised that the project is due for completion by 30 June 2013, with a short-term view of implementing immediate process changes as well as identifying long-term regulatory reforms for further investigation by both PIRSA and the EPA. I am informed that the new streamlined processes will allow more time for the tuna industry to initiate their annual farming activity, and I understand that in some cases this will mean that licence holders will be able to start their farming up to six weeks earlier as a result of the time saved in referrals between agencies.

Tuna operations follow a very tight stocking and harvest schedule where the tuna are caught wild in the Great Australian Bight and then transported to the long-established Port Lincoln farming aquaculture zone to grow for between six and eight months. South Australia is recognised worldwide for its aquaculture industry, innovation and creativity based on the exchange of skills and cooperation between industry, scientists and government. They have been a hallmark of South Australia's very successful seafood industry. South Australia's southern bluefin tuna industry is obviously no exception, with our southern bluefin tuna one of the most sought after seafoods in the world. Tuna is this state's largest single aquaculture sector. In 2010-11, South Australian fisheries and aquaculture sectors produced more than 63,000 tonnes of seafood with a total value of more than $424 million.

While this red tape reduction project will benefit farming operations, environmental standards obviously will not be compromised. The project aims to provide sustainable environment outcomes, which includes the development of a coordinated environmental audit program with the engagement of KPMG to cover risks assessed by the EPA and PIRSA through the licence assessment process for tuna licences. This is a very good example, I think, of the industry and government working together to reduce red tape for industry and highlights this government's commitment to capitalise on the increasing global demand for our premium food and wine from our clean environment.