Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Colbeck for his question. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority, as Senator Colbeck knows, is an independent authority responsible for the sustainable management of Commonwealth fisheries. I do have confidence in AFMA and the strength of the fisheries science behind the small pelagic fishery.

There are uncertainties around environmental science regarding the impacts of large freezer vessels on endangered species and other wildlife, and the government has taken separate action in this regard. The Gillard government has introduced legislation to toughen up environmental controls on vessels like the supertrawler. To this end, the government will seek to provide the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, working with the minister for fisheries, with greater powers under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.Of course, what these powers will do is to allow for the suspension of declared fishing activities pending further assessment of the proposed activity if there is uncertainty about the environmental, social or economic impacts of the fishing activity.

This government remains a strong defender of Australian fisheries. This world-leading fishery management system was established under the Hawke government—a Labor government—not a coalition government. If you look at the record of the coalition government in this, which I may come to, you will find it lacking. Yesterday, with Minister Burke, I did announce proposed changes to legislation. I also announced the first major root-and-branch review of the fisheries management system. Whilst the— (Time expired)