Question Time

FISHERIES COMPLIANCE

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question about the one that got away.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: South Australian rock lobsters are worth their weight in crayfish. We harvested 1,500 tonnes of these crustaceans in 2009-10, worth almost $86 million. Naturally, these crayfishers are licensed. They pay an annual licence fee, which can be as much as, or more than, $30,000 per licence. Naturally, that is a tax deduction and, naturally, people want to claim it year by year. Equally naturally, the minister's department sends out its yearly invoices in late May or early June so crayfishers can pay their licences and claim their deduction.

Sadly, that is not so this year. Fishers are only now getting their renewal notices and bills. The minister's department was late; it has missed the boat—the cray boat—and in this one by one financial year. My questions are:

1. What inexcusable excuse does the minister have for this delay?

2. How will the minister compensate crayfishers for their significant financial loss?

3. Is it true that the minister's departmental failure was due to a delay in the cabinet process and, if so, what was the reason for that delay?

4. When there is a failure in the minister's department's service delivery, how does that affect the cost recovery for the ministry in the next financial year?

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) (14:31): I thank the honourable member for his important question. The Fisheries Management Act 2007 provides for the charging of fees for commercial fishing licences, the registration of certain types of commercial fishing gear, and other associated costs. The commercial fishing industry in South Australia is required to meet the agreed costs of all services to support the sector, including research (biological and economic), management and compliance, as well as a range of additional services in support of the industry.

I am advised that each year a thorough consultation process is conducted with industry associations to determine the level of the services required and the amount that will subsequently be recovered from licence holders. I understand that PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture have completed meetings with the commercial fishing industry in relation to cost recovery licences for the 2013-14 financial year, and these have been placed into regulation. Invoices can only be issued to licence holders once the regulations have been approved, and I am advised that invoices for the 2013-14 financial year were sent to licence holders the day following the setting of these regulations.

I am aware that there has been correspondence from the South Australian Rock Lobster Advisory Council in relation to the issuing of licence renewals. PIRSA obviously undertakes a thorough consultation process with the fishing industry to set these licence fees annually. Unfortunately, there were some discrepancies in the fees that needed to be corrected to reflect the exact outcomes of the consultation with the industry. This led to a delay, I am advised, in the approval and setting of the regulated fees for the 2013-14 financial year.

I accept that the issuing of these invoices was slightly later this year than it has been in the last few years. I understand, historically, invoices were issued in late June, but I do accept that it is later than it is usually. However, in recognition that the invoices were issued slightly later, I am advised that licence holders have been given until 21 July—it is usually 1 July—to make their first instalment payment. Obviously, while these matters are for individual licence holders to determine, it is important to note that these invoices are actually associated with the 2013-14 financial year, not the 2012-13 financial year.

As I said, it is regrettable that this oversight occurred. We have attempted to work with the industry wherever we can to reduce the impact this might have on the sector, and I am happy to keep working with industry to minimise any impact.