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

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:00): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier explain what new information taxpayers can expect from the $500,000 study into voluntary marine scalefish fishery licence surrender? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr PEDERICK: A comprehensive reform was recently undertaken that included the implementation of a structural adjustment package and voluntary buybacks.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier, Minister for Defence and Space Industries) (15:01): That was a very expensive program initiated by the former government and one that has not necessarily enjoyed widespread support amongst many people within the fishing community. Since the initiation of that program and its institution what we have seen is the harmful algal bloom, which has been a major disrupting force to our fisheries, particularly in Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf. What we are seeking to do, on the back of this extraordinary event, is more work to inform the government about the merits or the possibility of voluntary buyback measures.

We are going to develop, in government, a terms of reference for that exercise in conjunction with both the direct fishing sector and also the commercial fishing sector. We want it to be informed by the science and the economics. Ideally we want it reporting to the government of the day by the middle of next year, if indeed that can be achieved, notwithstanding the fact that we know, with the harmful algal bloom, that it is impossible to predict where it will be at next month, let alone throughout the first half of next year.

But if there is an opportunity to actively inquire into this, on top of the work that has already been conducted, in order to add yet more science to the effort, or to bring that science together, then we are very keen to do it and have that as an option. There are people within the commercial fishing sector that are keen on the opportunity potentially of our licence surrender or buyback. There are many people within the rec fishing sector that would support that, particularly if it aided recovery of the marine environment and, in turn, fish stocks.

That is why we allocated a half a million dollars to that program, and we will keenly anticipate its commencement once those terms of reference are finalised and who conducts that work and then it will report, like I said, all things being equal, subject to the science, ideally by the middle of next year for whoever it is that occupies the Treasury benches following next year's state election.

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