Historic Shipwrecks (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 3 November 2016.)

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (17:54): I would like to thank the Hon. Michelle Lensink for her contribution to the discussion on the bill. In short, this bill is about being able to better protect South Australia's shipwrecks and relics of historic significance and brings our legislation up to date. As I said in my second reading speech, the government invited submissions from the community, key stakeholders, relevant state and commonwealth government agencies. Feedback received during the five-week consultation period held across May and June this year has been documented in a report which has since been made available via the government's YourSAy website and has been very supportive.

I would like to briefly respond to some matters raised during discussion. Firstly, I would like to clarify a point that the Hon. Michelle Lensink brought up in regard to previous information tabled in Estimates Committee B on 1 August 2016. There may have been some confusion that arose due to the fact that the area subject to the 23 court prosecutions, being the Zanoni historic shipwreck protected zone, is both a protected zone under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1981 and a marine park sanctuary zone.

Compliance monitoring of the Off-Shore Ardrossan Sanctuary Zone as a result of the implementation of the Marine Parks (Zoning) Regulations 2012 has also led to increased detection of offending in the Zanoni protected zone. The 240 warning letters and six expiations mentioned in estimates relate to breaches of the Marine Parks Act 2007, as distinct from the 26 breaches prosecuted under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1981.

In addition, the Hon. Michelle Lensink raised a query about the compliance vessels across different areas and sought clarification on how many vessels there are, where they are based and how many authorised officers are involved. The Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, I am advised, has four blue-water trailer vessels that are used for marine compliance activities. Two are based in Adelaide, one in Port Lincoln and the other in Kingscote. The two Adelaide-based vessels have conducted patrols of the protected zones at the Zanoni and Hobart historic shipwrecks.

I am advised that PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture operates 11 primary vessels including the offshore patrol vessel, FPV Southern Ranger, which is surveyed to 200 nautical miles and 10 other large trailer vessels surveyed to 30 nautical miles. These are based in Largs North, Ceduna, Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Moonta, Yorketown, Kingscote, Kingston SE and Mount Gambier. PIRSA also operates 12 other support and special purpose vessels from the same locations and Loxton. I can clarify that some of the Zanoni breaches were detected by PIRSA Fisheries officers in the course of their routine enforcement of the Fisheries Management Act 2007. Details of offending vessels were provided to DEWNR for prosecutions.

There are 18 DEWNR officers specifically authorised under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1981, and 228 wardens appointed under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. All these wardens, I am advised, are also authorised officers for the purposes of the Marine Parks Act 2007. I understand PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture employ 40 operational fisheries officers authorised under the Fisheries Management Act 2007. These officers are also automatically authorised under the Marine Parks Act 2007.

In summary, the proposed amendments to the Historic Shipwrecks Act aim to make the operation of the act more effective and efficient, thereby ensuring South Australia is well placed to protect its important historic shipwrecks and relics. I commend the bill to members and look forward to its speedy passage through committee.

Bill read a second time.

Committee Stage

Bill taken through committee without amendment.

Third Reading

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (17:59): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.