❓ Mr. Folkard asks about the McGowan government's support for the WA commercial fishing sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister outlines measures taken, including financial relief, market adjustments for the lobster industry, and essential service designation.
AnsweredQoN 367Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
COMMERCIAL FISHING SECTOR
367. Mr M.J. FOLKARD to the Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the severe impact that
COVID-19 has had on the Western Australian commercial fishing sector. Can the
Minister for Fisheries outline to the house what measures the McGowan
government has created to support businesses in the Western Australian
commercial fishing industry during this uncertain time, as well as protecting
the jobs that rely on this sector?
COMMERCIAL FISHING SECTOR
367. Mr M.J. FOLKARD to the Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the severe impact that
COVID-19 has had on the Western Australian commercial fishing sector. Can the
Minister for Fisheries outline to the house what measures the McGowan
government has created to support businesses in the Western Australian
commercial fishing industry during this uncertain time, as well as protecting
the jobs that rely on this sector?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the
question. Everybody in this chamber knows that Australia is a trading nation—the
grand island home is, in fact, one of the world's largest trading
nations in commodities and good and services. Western Australia is the biggest
trading state of the country, with just under 35 per cent of Australia's
total exports coming from this very state. The state that is nearest is
Queensland, with 22 per cent. Therefore, we are very clearly globally focused
and, as they say, trade exposed. In fact, nine out of our top 10 trading
partners are in Asia, and growing rapidly. It is estimated that about 400 000
to 500 000 jobs in Western Australia come from trade-related activities, so the
jobs relationship between us and our near neighbours is fundamentally and
intrinsically linked.
We all know that COVID-19 has
created significant disruption to our markets. No less an example is the
lobster industry—95 per cent of the lobster catch goes to China because
it offers the best global prices. However, there is a risk in that, which we very clearly found out about in late January
when that trade suddenly stopped. The McGowan government actively engaged very early with the industry to find out
what the issues were, what the market correction was and what we could
do to make a recovery pathway. In doing that, we were able to support the
industry. We created an 18-month season and
brought forward the tonnage from next year's season—9 000
tonnes. That occurred just on the cusp of the Chinese New Year, which is
the peak fishing season for lobster. We extended the season into next year so
that lobster fishers could take advantage of quotas to meet the needs of the
growing demand of the Chinese New Year requirement for seafood. We also
implemented a new mechanism for back-of-boat sales so that those who catch it
can sell it to anybody they like. We are also implementing a wider promotion of
existing registered users, or registered receivers of the product. I am happy
to report to the chamber that of the 2 500 direct jobs related to the rock
lobster industry—not to mention the thousands of indirect jobs—over
half the fleet is back in the water, extracting that natural endowment of our
seas. Markets in China are starting to open. The price is starting to be
supported at higher levels—it is not where it once was, but it is
certainly on the pathway.
We
have not acted in just one industry. The fishing industry is diverse by species
and geography, and we have worked across all the various sectors or
parts of the fishing industry to make sure that we are aware of the issues and
are supporting them. That is why in early
April we announced the support package for the rest of the commercial fishing sector. Things included a $1.3 million waiver of annual licence fees and
deferred access and lease fee payments to assist fishing, aquaculture, pearling
and fishing tour operators get help and get back on their feet.
I would also like to commend my
colleague the Minister for Transport, who waived pen fees for commercial
operators. There is nothing worse than a boat that is not out fishing. The only
thing that is worse is it accruing costs as it sits in the pen. She was very
swift to act in their best interests.
We have ensured that our commercial fishers and those who
support them are deemed essential services, making sure that they are making a contribution
to the community and the economy wherever they can and guaranteeing jobs to
ensure food security for Western Australians. I can assure the house that the
department is working very closely with the industry peak body, the Western Australian
Fishing Industry Council, to make sure that we are alive to the particular
issues as they arise and that we support the growth pathway back to the markets
that are richly available to us in our near neighbours.
question. Everybody in this chamber knows that Australia is a trading nation—the
grand island home is, in fact, one of the world's largest trading
nations in commodities and good and services. Western Australia is the biggest
trading state of the country, with just under 35 per cent of Australia's
total exports coming from this very state. The state that is nearest is
Queensland, with 22 per cent. Therefore, we are very clearly globally focused
and, as they say, trade exposed. In fact, nine out of our top 10 trading
partners are in Asia, and growing rapidly. It is estimated that about 400 000
to 500 000 jobs in Western Australia come from trade-related activities, so the
jobs relationship between us and our near neighbours is fundamentally and
intrinsically linked.
We all know that COVID-19 has
created significant disruption to our markets. No less an example is the
lobster industry—95 per cent of the lobster catch goes to China because
it offers the best global prices. However, there is a risk in that, which we very clearly found out about in late January
when that trade suddenly stopped. The McGowan government actively engaged very early with the industry to find out
what the issues were, what the market correction was and what we could
do to make a recovery pathway. In doing that, we were able to support the
industry. We created an 18-month season and
brought forward the tonnage from next year's season—9 000
tonnes. That occurred just on the cusp of the Chinese New Year, which is
the peak fishing season for lobster. We extended the season into next year so
that lobster fishers could take advantage of quotas to meet the needs of the
growing demand of the Chinese New Year requirement for seafood. We also
implemented a new mechanism for back-of-boat sales so that those who catch it
can sell it to anybody they like. We are also implementing a wider promotion of
existing registered users, or registered receivers of the product. I am happy
to report to the chamber that of the 2 500 direct jobs related to the rock
lobster industry—not to mention the thousands of indirect jobs—over
half the fleet is back in the water, extracting that natural endowment of our
seas. Markets in China are starting to open. The price is starting to be
supported at higher levels—it is not where it once was, but it is
certainly on the pathway.
We
have not acted in just one industry. The fishing industry is diverse by species
and geography, and we have worked across all the various sectors or
parts of the fishing industry to make sure that we are aware of the issues and
are supporting them. That is why in early
April we announced the support package for the rest of the commercial fishing sector. Things included a $1.3 million waiver of annual licence fees and
deferred access and lease fee payments to assist fishing, aquaculture, pearling
and fishing tour operators get help and get back on their feet.
I would also like to commend my
colleague the Minister for Transport, who waived pen fees for commercial
operators. There is nothing worse than a boat that is not out fishing. The only
thing that is worse is it accruing costs as it sits in the pen. She was very
swift to act in their best interests.
We have ensured that our commercial fishers and those who
support them are deemed essential services, making sure that they are making a contribution
to the community and the economy wherever they can and guaranteeing jobs to
ensure food security for Western Australians. I can assure the house that the
department is working very closely with the industry peak body, the Western Australian
Fishing Industry Council, to make sure that we are alive to the particular
issues as they arise and that we support the growth pathway back to the markets
that are richly available to us in our near neighbours.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.