Question Time

Fisheries Sector

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding the fisheries sector. Has the minister released the report of the independent review of the current seafood sector's cost-recovery policy model to industry stakeholders and, if not, why not?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:21): I thank the honourable member for her question. I would have hoped she would be aware that it hasn't been released as yet and the reason for that is similar to what I have stated in this place on a number of occasions. It's important that these reports are considered carefully, and of course that is what is occurring as we speak.

The Hon. N.J. Centofanti: Five months, Clare.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: We have the interjection from those opposite saying it's five months. What I think she needs to be aware of is that the final report, delivered by the panel, was on 13 October. Maths may not be her strong point, but 13 October to 29 November I think is not five months by anybody's calculations.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Presumably those opposite don't think that having full information is important. Presumably those opposite don't think that considering the various implications and impacts is important. Clearly, those opposite don't think that working systematically and responsibly through reports is important, which of course might explain how we ended up with some of the mess that we did in the fishery sector under the previous government, because clearly they don't think it's important to consider carefully and to actually reflect on the impacts.

The sorts of questions that are coming to me from many of the stakeholders are related to the reforms made by the previous government. Remember, this is a reform made by the previous government and we are talking about the marine scalefish fishery—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —where SACAT advised that decisions were made by the former minister that had no legislative basis—no legislative basis. That's the kind of mess you get if you don't take the time to be responsible, to work systematically through a report, look at what the implications might be—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —and that's what those opposite should have done. They didn't do it with this reform—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! How about you don't interject, either.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —and our government is left to try to fix their mess.