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

I thank Senator Boswell for his supplementary question. In terms of the commercial decisions by the operator, they still remain and have a total allowable catch for a particular fishery, which is the small pelagic fishery. Nothing has changed within that. As I have also indicated, nothing has changed in relation to the work that is being done by the independent regulator, AFMA, as the regulator of that fishery.

What has changed is that yesterday we implemented a bill which changes Minister Burke's legislation to allow him to take a certain action. That means it will seek to provide the minister for sustainability—or, in short, the environment—the powers of suspension for a declared fishing activity pending further assessment. It is important that we do the further assessment. It will take roughly 24 months to ensure that we do have the sound science to ensure— (Time expired)