❓ The WA Fisheries Minister expresses concern over illegal Indonesian fishing in Australian waters, criticising federal funding cuts and urging bipartisan support to protect WA fisheries and jobs.
AnsweredQoN 563Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Is the minister surprised that the commonwealth has arrested three more fishing boats off the Kimberley coast? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. I am not surprised that three more boats have been taken into custody. Mr R.F. Johnson : Happy birthday, minister. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I thank the member for Hillarys. Mr J.A. McGinty : Happy birthday, brother. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Born in Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital on the same day! The SPEAKER : Twins! Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: I thank the member for the question. I am not surprised that three more boats have been taken into custody. Mr R.F. Johnson : Happy birthday, minister. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I thank the member for Hillarys. Mr J.A. McGinty : Happy birthday, brother. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Born in Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital on the same day! The SPEAKER : Twins! Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
I thank the member for the question. I am not surprised that three more boats have been taken into custody. Mr R.F. Johnson : Happy birthday, minister. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I thank the member for Hillarys. Mr J.A. McGinty : Happy birthday, brother. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Born in Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital on the same day! The SPEAKER : Twins! Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
Mr R.F. Johnson : Happy birthday, minister. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I thank the member for Hillarys. Mr J.A. McGinty : Happy birthday, brother. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Born in Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital on the same day! The SPEAKER : Twins! Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I thank the member for Hillarys. Mr J.A. McGinty : Happy birthday, brother. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Born in Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital on the same day! The SPEAKER : Twins! Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
Mr J.A. McGinty : Happy birthday, brother. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Born in Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital on the same day! The SPEAKER : Twins! Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Born in Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital on the same day! The SPEAKER : Twins! Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
The SPEAKER : Twins! Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: I thank the member for the question. I am not surprised that three more boats have been taken into custody. Mr R.F. Johnson : Happy birthday, minister. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I thank the member for Hillarys. Mr J.A. McGinty : Happy birthday, brother. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Born in Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital on the same day! The SPEAKER : Twins! Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
I thank the member for the question. I am not surprised that three more boats have been taken into custody. Mr R.F. Johnson : Happy birthday, minister. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I thank the member for Hillarys. Mr J.A. McGinty : Happy birthday, brother. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Born in Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital on the same day! The SPEAKER : Twins! Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
Mr R.F. Johnson : Happy birthday, minister. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I thank the member for Hillarys. Mr J.A. McGinty : Happy birthday, brother. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Born in Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital on the same day! The SPEAKER : Twins! Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I thank the member for Hillarys. Mr J.A. McGinty : Happy birthday, brother. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Born in Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital on the same day! The SPEAKER : Twins! Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
Mr J.A. McGinty : Happy birthday, brother. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Born in Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital on the same day! The SPEAKER : Twins! Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Born in Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital on the same day! The SPEAKER : Twins! Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
The SPEAKER : Twins! Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
Mr R.C. Kucera : We will have to have them DNA tested! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Exactly! This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
This is a very important issue. I am told that these three boats, apprehended by the navy 100 kilometres west of Cape Leveque, are just the tip of the iceberg. I understand there is a whole armada in Indonesia. Satellite photos show that the number of boats gathering in the fishing villages to come down to Australian waters has multiplied by 10 in recent weeks. According to federal government figures, these fishermen are taking 25 000 tonnes of shark a year out of Australian waters. The tragic part of it is that all they do is cut off the fin and the rest of the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This comes at a time when the Western Australian government is telling our own fishermen that they cannot fish for shark in Australian waters because the numbers have been depleted. However, the federal government is cutting back on its funding to keep out Indonesian fishermen. That 25 000 tonnes may not mean much to someone from inland, but, according to the federal government, 25 000 tonnes equals one million sharks a year. That is one million sharks that had their fins cut off and were left to rot. This comes at a time when the federal government is cutting back funding, taking away the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome - which is still not much considering the length of the Western Australian coastline - dedicated to protecting our fisheries from these invaders. I urge members opposite to join with the Western Australian government in urging their federal colleagues to restore this funding. It is not a large sum of money, and I urge members of the opposition to join with the government in urging their federal colleagues to resume funding to protect the six jobs in Perth and two in Broome.
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.