Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

What has become very clear here today and for those millions of rec fishermen across this country and people who care about the ocean is that we are back at zero on supertrawlers. Absolutely nothing has changed. The coalition is happy for supertrawlers to come back to Australian waters. The Labor Party have introduced this bill—a bill that does not stop supertrawlers, does not ban supertrawlers. The bill was introduced by the previous minister, who presided over the arrival of the supertrawler and all the fuss that led to the moratorium. And by the way, Senator McKenzie, all the research work you quoted that has been done came about only because of the Greens and the conservation and rec fishing 'special interests', as you call them, in this country.

We have a long way to go. The Borthwick review came about because of this farce around the supertrawler, and it has not proceeded. This sunset clause was supposed to be in place until the work could be done. You have the hypocrisy, Senator McKenzie, to stand here and lecture me and the Greens about science. You have the hypocrisy to lecture us about not listening to the science.

Senator McKenzie interjecting—

Well, let's talk about the dredging in the Great Barrier Reef. Let's talk about your party full of climate change deniers. Ninety-nine per cent of scientists around the world—

Senator McKenzie interjecting—