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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-09-19 Daily Xml
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FISHING SUPER TRAWLER

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. M. Parnell:

That this council:

1. notes the growing community concern and disquiet over the arrival in Port Lincoln of the super trawler, FV Margiris, to operate in Australian waters to fish the Small Pelagic Fishery;

2. expresses concern about the potential impact on local fisheries of the current quota of 18,000 tonnes for the Small Pelagic Fishery;

3. recognises the need for a balanced approach between the needs of a sustainable commercial fishing industry, access for recreational fishers and appropriate marine conservation outcomes;

4. notes that the government has written to Senator Ludwig, federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, to advise him that the South Australian government does not support the FV Margiris operating in South Australian waters or in commonwealth waters around South Australia; and

5. endorses that move and urges the federal government to prevent the FV Margiris from operating in Australian waters.

(Continued from 5 September 2012.)

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (18:00): I refer members to comments I have just made on private members' business No. 3, but I will just add a couple of brief comments. I think the Hon. Gerry Kandelaars in a previous contribution mentioned that this legislation has passed the federal parliament finally today, I think, in the Senate.

So, what we are actually doing—and I am glad the Hon. Mark Parnell is not going to take very much time—is wasting the time of the South Australian parliament. It was always in commonwealth waters, it was a commonwealth issue, yet we have seen this attempt to try to politicise this particular issue in South Australia.

It is well outside Australia. We have a three-mile limit. This is hundreds of miles out to sea, so it is a little disappointing that, now that the federal government has acted to ban this particular vessel, we now still seem to have to have debate in this place. With those few words, I will refer members to the very informative and accurate comments I made in the previous motion.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (18:01): I will also be very quick. I congratulate the Hon. Mark Parnell for his motion and, in particular, also the Hon. Gerry Kandelaars and refer to the comments he has made in both his contributions. The government has, of course, put on record the significant concerns generated by the public conservation groups and the broader community and the potential impact it would have on local fisheries, marine mammals and marine ecosystems.

I was particularly pleased to hear last time in this chamber that the state government took action to write to the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry about this state's concerns, advising him that the South Australian government does not support the vessel operating in the Small Pelagic Fishery. Again, the Hon. Gerry Kandelaars has already placed that on the record.

Like everybody else, I acknowledge and welcome the commonwealth government this morning passing legislation through the Senate which will effectively suspend the super trawler from fishing in Australian waters for two years, thus enabling research on the environmental impact of the Abel Tasman on the Small Pelagic Fishery. I think it would be fair to say that the amount of community concern that has arisen in response to these environmental concerns reflects the widespread support that we have received regarding protection of our state's water from exploitation. It is imperative that we have a full understanding of the overall impact of the super trawler's activities and the state agrees that today's decision is a positive step forward. However, we do realise the action taken by the commonwealth is only a short-term measure and we will continue to take up this matter with the commonwealth government to ensure that the concerns of the South Australian community are represented.

As has already been mentioned by the Hon. Gerry Kandelaars, it is a timely issue with regard to the natural resources of the state and how we deal with these issues as a community. Being a member of the Select Committee on Marine Parks, I am well aware that the government policy to introduce marine parks zones demonstrates its widespread commitment to our state waters.

In addition, the outcome of this issue does, of course, fully demonstrate the government's commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the state's aquatic resources. For our commercial and recreational industries, the government supports the motion of the Hon. Mark Parnell.

The Hon. M. PARNELL (18:04): In summing up, I thank the Hon. Carmel Zollo and the Hon. David Ridgway for their contribution to my motion. I also acknowledge the contribution the Hon. Gerry Kandelaars also made when he copied, effectively, the Greens' motion from Tasmania and introduced it as a government motion. Given the federal government's support now for it, it just goes to show what happens when the Legislative Council gets behind the Greens and our sensible ideas—we can change the world and we can change federal government policy. So, that is a good outcome.

Certainly, as members have suggested, the Senate this morning passed the final stages of the bill, so we now find ourselves in somewhat of a holding pattern. There are now two years when the government has committed to a root and branch review of Australia's fisheries management. The Greens were disappointed that our amendments to permanently ban the super trawlers did not get up. But the importance of this review of fisheries management will be that we might be able to get beyond the selective science the Hon. David Ridgway refers to. He is a big fan of science when it suits and, when it does not suit, it is ignored.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. M. PARNELL: The Hon. David Ridgway asks: when does science not suit him? Next time I move that the southern bluefin tuna, which is internationally listed as a critically endangered species, be also listed in this state, I bet you he votes no because there is too much money to be made out of it. So, science when it suits.

The Greens have put out a release today saying that we are pleased with the bill, that we voted for it, but that the Greens have vowed to continue the super trawler campaign. We are disappointed that we will, sometime in the next two years, have to re-agitate this issue, but we do look forward to the review of fisheries management and, in particular, a review of the way in which quotas are set because, whilst the Hon. David Ridgway waxes lyrical about the sustainability of the sardine fishery and quota, in my previous life as a lawyer I had whistleblower scientists out of SARDI ringing me saying that they were concerned in great earnest at how the quotas were being set. Their view was that it was not sustainable.

I think that this federal review should also trigger a South Australian review so that we make sure that quotas are set according to science and in a way that is truly sustainable. But, for now, I think this parliament should celebrate the fact that we have helped change national policy through support for the Greens' motion. I urge all members to get behind this motion, as we did get behind the Hon. Gerry Kandelaars' motion.

Motion carried.

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