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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-06-02 Daily Xml
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Fishing Industry

The Hon. C. BONAROS (15:14): Has the minister considered funding a peak body for the remainder of the fishing industry?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:14): Certainly, it's under active consideration and I have had some discussions with various groups who are involved, particularly in commercial fishing but, as I mentioned, I have also had discussions with RecFish SA. As I recall, that didn't come up in that meeting, although if I am mistaken I will certainly come back and correct the record.

I think there is a certain level of support for a peak body for the fishing sector that does not include the rec fishing sector, but there are also others who have questioned the appropriateness of that. In respect of considering a peak body, I am certainly very open to that. I will continue to have discussions with the very wide and varied sectors within the fisheries sector.

I am certainly very open to hearing from people in this place as well, and from their constituents or the people who might be making representations to them, about how they would like to see that happen. I know that was one of the proposals under the previous government and I think, from my advice, there was a strategy that was developed months and months before the election but only announced right on the cusp of the election. If that had actually had the opportunity to be released earlier, there would have been more opportunity for greater consultation and greater feedback.

In summary, it is something that, whilst it wasn't committed to as a commitment of the then Labor opposition (so it doesn't form part of our election commitments), it is certainly not something that I am closed off to. I look forward to continuing to have discussions, conversations and also see how robust the consultation was by the former government in relation to this because, as we know, on a number of aspects there have been assertions by the former government that robust consultation took place only to find that in actual fact they have either been unaware of decisions being made, unaware of strategies going forward, or perhaps not even involved in being aware of the decisions that are under consideration. In regard to—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, are you going to conclude your remarks?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: The Leader of the Opposition is now learning to read the clock as well, very good.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I think, certainly, it is very much easier for governments, often, to be able to liaise with a single peak body, but what I want to ensure is that if such a peak body was established that it would be reactive and in response to the needs of industry and all of the stakeholders, rather than simply because it is easier for governments. I do appreciate that there are great opportunities—

The PRESIDENT: Minister!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —across all of the sectors and they do want to be able to make sure their voices are heard. Ensuring that a peak body is truly representative—

The PRESIDENT: Minister, you have deprived the Hon. Mr Wortley of a question. You can apologise to him later, I think.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I still have more to say.

The PRESIDENT: Have you finished?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: No, I have still got more to say. Ensuring that all of the different sectors are represented will of course always be my top priority.

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