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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-10-28 Daily Xml
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Snapper Fishery Ban

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (14:48): My question is to the Premier. What scientific data supports the extension of the snapper closure by another 12 months?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier, Minister for Defence and Space Industries) (14:48): This is the advice I received, and I am happy to take the details on notice. From memory, the minister was due to contemplate data coming in November regarding the snapper ban that was instituted some time ago. I think the member for Chaffey was the minister at the time when the snapper ban was instituted, from memory, and we supported it because it was done with the right reasons at heart. That would then inform what happens to the snapper ban that was otherwise in place to 30 June next year. Because some of the data was collated prior to the algal bloom, a decision has been made to extend that period by 12 months, to 30 June 2027. There is a concern amongst some within the scientific community that some of that data has not yet taken into account the effects of the bloom, hence the extension to, as I said, 30 June 2027.

Having said that, if more information presents itself as the work continues to relieve that, then of course the government will contemplate it. But we didn't want a situation where we are announcing these other measures—when we had received that advice—and then not announce this at the soonest available opportunity.

Like plenty of other people, presumably, in this place, I hear the stories too, right? I have had no shortage of people out there, I have had no shortage of mates, into me about the fact that they are fishing in the Spencer Gulf, and every time they—

Mr Telfer interjecting:

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: That's right, I hear about it all the time, and I am copping it, let me tell you. I did a charter with the kids between Christmas and New Year; it was in late December or early January. I did a charter, and the guy operating it, a lovely bloke, said, 'Don't worry; I am not going to talk about anything to do with the fishing.' This was long before the algal bloom. Anyway, sure as eggs, it took about five minutes and snapper came up. So I get it. I hear all the stories too—

Mr Telfer interjecting:

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Don't worry, mate, there was part of me that wanted to see the kids catch onto something, but if it was a snapper it just wouldn't have been worth it. But anyway, I hear all the stories too. What we have to do is not act on the anecdotal advice that we receive from mates who go out on the Spencer Gulf or on what we see on Facebook. We have to go with what SARDI and PIRSA are telling us. But we will continue to scrutinise it, we will continue to ask the questions, and if there is an opportunity to provide some relief in some places at a certain period of time without there being adverse effects, I am keen as mustard to do it, but only if it's backed up with the science and the advice that we receive as a government.

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