A member of parliament questions the Minister for Fisheries about working constructively with the Western Rock Lobster industry to benefit the WA economy and regional jobs. The Minister responds by highlighting recent regulatory changes aimed at boosting tourism and domestic consumption.

AnsweredQoN 941Legislative Assembly
Asked
23 October 2019
Portfolio
Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

WESTERN ROCK LOBSTER
INDUSTRY — ROUNDTABLE EVENT
941. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY to the Minister for Fisheries:
I have a supplementary question.
When will the minister start working constructively with an industry that is
worth more than half a billion dollars to Western Australia's economy
and is particularly important in the regions?

AnswerView source ↗

Just a fortnight ago, we announced
some changes to the charter sector and got rid of some of the red tape in the industry that prevents it from capitalising on the
available tourist market, or the potential tourist market that would be
available if it could better access western rock lobster. As a result of those
changes, the Tourism Council Western Australia estimates that hundreds of
additional jobs will be created in that sector, many in regional Western Australia.
We are always looking for initiatives to better capitalise on the potential
from western rock lobster. As the member knows, over 95 per cent of the catch
currently goes to China. That is a good thing—it is a great export
product—but people in the regions tell me that if more domestic lobster
were available here in Western Australia, it would create more jobs in the
regions. That is why local governments almost unanimously between here and
Geraldton want to see more local lobsters. If the member for Geraldton wants
more local jobs here in WA from this resource, he should start to look at this
issue with an open mind.

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