Fisheries Sector

The Hon. C. BONAROS (14:48): I seek leave to make a very brief explanation before asking the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development a question about cost recovery.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: Earlier during question time, the minister indicated the cost-recovery review report was only finalised in October. My question to the minister is: did the minister, her staff or any other member from her department make, ask for or request any changes to the cost-recovery review report prior to its finalisation or at any other point and, if so, what were the changes and how did they impact the outcome of the review?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:49): I thank the honourable member for her question and her ongoing interest in the fishing sector. Just to recap a little bit, in line with our election commitment from March 2022 we prioritised ensuring the seafood sector's cost-recovery policy is both robust and appropriate.

On 15 June this year, I received the initial draft reports from the independent cost-recovery review panel, pertaining to both the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Shortly thereafter, on 21 June, I tasked the Department of Primary Industries and Regions to prepare a summary briefing that outlined the key findings of these reports.

As I did indicate on the record in Hansard on 29 August, after assessing the draft reports it became evident that there were gaps in the reports that required further consideration, so I sought additional information from the panel through the department on 28 July 2023. On 13 October, the panel provided the revised reports to the department, which included additional information that had been requested, which are now being considered.