Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture is talking like the federal government could allow supertrawlers into Australian waters after the two-year ban on the Margiris/Abel Tasman expires in November. But the Tasmanian Liberal Party, in election mode, claims to oppose such a proposition. Prime Minister, do you agree with Will Hodgman and will you rule out allowing supertrawlers in Australian waters?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do thank the member for Denison for his question, because the answer is: yes, I do agree with Will Hodgman. He will be a great Premier of Tasmania should the electors of that great state give him the opportunity in a couple of weeks' time. He will be a great Premier of Tasmania if he gets the support of the people at the election, and he deserves the support of the people.

As for the so-called supertrawler, the supertrawler is banned from Australian waters. It was the Manager of Opposition Business, formerly the relevant minister, who let the supertrawler in in the first place. He then thought better of it. It was banned with the support of members on this side of the House. It was banned; it will stay banned.