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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-09-10 Daily Xml
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ROCK LOBSTER QUOTAS

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:20): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Leader of the Government questions about recently announced changes to rock lobster quotas.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: I note with interest that the minister recently announced that next month is Small Business Month. The minister said that it is 'a very important time in which we can help small business deal with a whole lot of changes they face and that 'Small Business Month will cover topics such as managing cash flows, competing, and getting on top of costs'. Members might be aware that the fisheries minister has just announced a quota reduction of more than 20 per cent for the 2009-10 rock lobster fishing season in the state's northern and southern zones. Many of these fishermen are paying upwards of $20,000 per year in state government licence fees. My questions are:

1. Given that rock lobster fishermen are small business people, will the minister and the fisheries minister help them during Small Business Month to manage cash flows, compete and get on top of costs, now that the government has slashed quotas?

2. Given that this quota reduction significantly affects the bottom line of this small business, will the government cut these exorbitant licence fees, as the Rock Lobster Fishermen's Association called for recently?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:20): As a former fisheries minister, I am well aware of the complexities relating to rock lobster quotas. They are often increased if surveys indicate high numbers but of course—and quite appropriately, properly and necessarily—if there are declining numbers it is important that the quotas be reduced to preserve the species, and therefore preserve the long-term future of those small business people. Nothing could jeopardise the future of small business people in the rock lobster industry more than not taking action, which could ultimately lead to overfishing of the stock. That is something that could really destroy those small business people.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: No idea; you wouldn't know what a business was.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: There would not be a business if the fishery became unsustainable.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Is the honourable member really suggesting that the government should not have reduced quotas in the fishery?

An honourable member: No.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Well, I am pleased that we at least have acknowledgement of opposition support that the action was necessary to reduce the quotas in the fishery. In relation to the second question, I will refer that to the minister in another place who has responsibility for the matter.

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