Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Western Australian Government has implemented a new catch and kill policy which applies to the International Union for Conservation of Nature red listed and federally protected white sharks, and

(ii) the new 'Serious Threat Guidelines' (the guidelines) enable a shark to be caught and killed simply for being detected in a location over a number of days, without requiring other preventative actions to be implemented first, such as closing beaches, and allow the continued use of indiscriminate capture measures such as baited drum lines;

(b) condemns the guidelines of the Western Australian Government; and

(c) calls on the Minister for the Environment (Mr Hunt) not to grant any further exemptions to the Western Australian Government under section 158 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 that would allow Western Australia to instigate the guidelines.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute, Senator Fifield.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of Minister Hunt, I should point out that this is another example of the Greens ignoring the facts and wasting the Senate's time. An exemption is not required under national environmental law. It is up to the WA government to determine whether implementing their shark policy would have a significant impact. This has been the case since the Australian parliament established the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in 1999, into law in 2000. The Australian government's one-stop-shop policy continues to maintain these high environmental standards. We suggest that the Greens take the time to properly research the EPBC Act before moving motions in the future. This government is committed to ensuring a proper balance between protecting public safety and protecting the environment.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute, Senator Siewert.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is another example of the Minister for the Environment, Minister Hunt, seeking to wash his hands of his responsibilities under the EPBC Act for the protection of white sharks. The implementation of serious threat policies or guidelines could in fact result in more deaths of white sharks—

Government senators interjecting—

President, the people on this side of the chamber are speaking so loudly I cannot hear myself think.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

More sharks could end up being killed under this policy than could have been killed under the shark cull proposal of the Barnett—

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

Senator Macdonald, could you please be quiet!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Siewert. All senators, especially senators not in their seats, should not interject at any time. Senator Siewert has the call and she has the right to be heard in silence.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

More sharks could end up being taken under this policy than taken under the cull, when the WA EPA clearly said that the cull should not go ahead. So here we have a policy, endorsed by the federal government, that could see more protected sharks being killed than under the revolting cull policy. It should be condemned by this chamber. (Time expired)

Question negatived.