❓ Opposition questions the Premier's confidence in the Minister for Fisheries, alleging 'bungles' and raising concerns about potential nationalisation of the rock lobster fishery. The Premier defends the Minister, highlighting his hard work and the expansion of local access to the resource.
AnsweredQoN 5Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN ROCK LOBSTER
FISHERY
5. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Given the Minister for Fisheries' many bungles, does the minister have
the Premier's full and unqualified confidence; and, what safeguards has
the Premier put in place to ensure that the Minister for Fisheries is prevented
from nationalising the western rock lobster fishery or any other fishery, or
any other primary industry, into the future?
FISHERY
5. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Given the Minister for Fisheries' many bungles, does the minister have
the Premier's full and unqualified confidence; and, what safeguards has
the Premier put in place to ensure that the Minister for Fisheries is prevented
from nationalising the western rock lobster fishery or any other fishery, or
any other primary industry, into the future?
AnswerView source ↗
The thing I will say about the Minister
for Fisheries is he is hardworking, and he is passionate—he is
hardworking, and he is passionate. He has immersed himself in the various
portfolios that he has and he understands the detail. He has reached an outcome
that no government before has been able to achieve, which is a massive
expansion —
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Members need
to listen to this —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is a massive
expansion in the availability of our premium seafood product for Western Australians.
Under the Liberals and Nationals, it was all going overseas.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman! Members on my left, you just cannot sit there and talk the whole time.
You will have your chance to talk later.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We have
successfully achieved a massive expansion, and we have the agreement of the
industry to a major tourism event, which will be a lobster festival between
Perth and Geraldton. If we travel to other states and to other countries around
the world—I will use the example of Maine, Massachusetts, in the United
States—their premium seafood products are part of the appeal for
tourists to go there. That is what people want—they want something
interesting and tasty, to be frank—whereas in the Western Australian
context, it was $100 a kilo for the crayfish that is sitting off the coast.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Do members not
think it is fair that Western Australians, who own the resource, actually have
the opportunity to enjoy the resource?
for Fisheries is he is hardworking, and he is passionate—he is
hardworking, and he is passionate. He has immersed himself in the various
portfolios that he has and he understands the detail. He has reached an outcome
that no government before has been able to achieve, which is a massive
expansion —
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Members need
to listen to this —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is a massive
expansion in the availability of our premium seafood product for Western Australians.
Under the Liberals and Nationals, it was all going overseas.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman! Members on my left, you just cannot sit there and talk the whole time.
You will have your chance to talk later.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We have
successfully achieved a massive expansion, and we have the agreement of the
industry to a major tourism event, which will be a lobster festival between
Perth and Geraldton. If we travel to other states and to other countries around
the world—I will use the example of Maine, Massachusetts, in the United
States—their premium seafood products are part of the appeal for
tourists to go there. That is what people want—they want something
interesting and tasty, to be frank—whereas in the Western Australian
context, it was $100 a kilo for the crayfish that is sitting off the coast.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Do members not
think it is fair that Western Australians, who own the resource, actually have
the opportunity to enjoy the resource?
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