A WA parliamentary question addresses the progress of a rock lobster industry unit register and seeks financial assistance for struggling fishers. The Minister is exploring avenues for support but points to the Commonwealth government's revenue collection as a basis for their involvement.

AnsweredQoN 716Legislative Council
Asked
11 August 2009
Portfolio
Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

Rock Lobster FISHING INDUSTRY UNIT REGISTER
I refer to the Western Australian rock lobster fishery. (1) What progress has been achieved in developing the industry unit register? (2) Has the minister raised the issue of emergency financial assistance for struggling WA rock lobster fishers with the commonwealth government? (3) If yes to (2), when was the matter raised and what has been the response to date? (4) Why will the state government not give financial assistance to the struggling Western Australian rock lobster fishers? Hon NORMAN MOORE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am currently considering advice from the department on this issue. I note that in August 2006 the former Minister for Fisheries was presented with advice on the introduction of a unit register but this was not progressed. (2) Yes. (3) I wrote to Minister Burke on 28 July. I have not yet received a response. However, Minister Burke has released a media statement on the matter. (4) Existing legislation provides limited opportunities for the government to provide financial support to WA rock lobster fishers. Nevertheless, I am exploring all possible avenues such as reducing the licence fees and reforming the existing cost recovery funding arrangements. I wish to add to that by saying that the revenues that are received from the fishing industry by way of taxation are received by the federal government. Indeed, if the federal government finds it appropriate to provide financial assistance to struggling farmers in the event of very difficult circumstances, there is no reason why it cannot do the same with fishermen. It is appropriate that the government that receives the revenue by way of taxation from industry should provide some support in the event that the industry is in trouble.
(1) What progress has been achieved in developing the industry unit register? (2) Has the minister raised the issue of emergency financial assistance for struggling WA rock lobster fishers with the commonwealth government? (3) If yes to (2), when was the matter raised and what has been the response to date? (4) Why will the state government not give financial assistance to the struggling Western Australian rock lobster fishers? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am currently considering advice from the department on this issue. I note that in August 2006 the former Minister for Fisheries was presented with advice on the introduction of a unit register but this was not progressed. (2) Yes. (3) I wrote to Minister Burke on 28 July. I have not yet received a response. However, Minister Burke has released a media statement on the matter. (4) Existing legislation provides limited opportunities for the government to provide financial support to WA rock lobster fishers. Nevertheless, I am exploring all possible avenues such as reducing the licence fees and reforming the existing cost recovery funding arrangements. I wish to add to that by saying that the revenues that are received from the fishing industry by way of taxation are received by the federal government. Indeed, if the federal government finds it appropriate to provide financial assistance to struggling farmers in the event of very difficult circumstances, there is no reason why it cannot do the same with fishermen. It is appropriate that the government that receives the revenue by way of taxation from industry should provide some support in the event that the industry is in trouble.
(2) Has the minister raised the issue of emergency financial assistance for struggling WA rock lobster fishers with the commonwealth government? (3) If yes to (2), when was the matter raised and what has been the response to date? (4) Why will the state government not give financial assistance to the struggling Western Australian rock lobster fishers? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am currently considering advice from the department on this issue. I note that in August 2006 the former Minister for Fisheries was presented with advice on the introduction of a unit register but this was not progressed. (2) Yes. (3) I wrote to Minister Burke on 28 July. I have not yet received a response. However, Minister Burke has released a media statement on the matter. (4) Existing legislation provides limited opportunities for the government to provide financial support to WA rock lobster fishers. Nevertheless, I am exploring all possible avenues such as reducing the licence fees and reforming the existing cost recovery funding arrangements. I wish to add to that by saying that the revenues that are received from the fishing industry by way of taxation are received by the federal government. Indeed, if the federal government finds it appropriate to provide financial assistance to struggling farmers in the event of very difficult circumstances, there is no reason why it cannot do the same with fishermen. It is appropriate that the government that receives the revenue by way of taxation from industry should provide some support in the event that the industry is in trouble.
(3) If yes to (2), when was the matter raised and what has been the response to date? (4) Why will the state government not give financial assistance to the struggling Western Australian rock lobster fishers? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am currently considering advice from the department on this issue. I note that in August 2006 the former Minister for Fisheries was presented with advice on the introduction of a unit register but this was not progressed. (2) Yes. (3) I wrote to Minister Burke on 28 July. I have not yet received a response. However, Minister Burke has released a media statement on the matter. (4) Existing legislation provides limited opportunities for the government to provide financial support to WA rock lobster fishers. Nevertheless, I am exploring all possible avenues such as reducing the licence fees and reforming the existing cost recovery funding arrangements. I wish to add to that by saying that the revenues that are received from the fishing industry by way of taxation are received by the federal government. Indeed, if the federal government finds it appropriate to provide financial assistance to struggling farmers in the event of very difficult circumstances, there is no reason why it cannot do the same with fishermen. It is appropriate that the government that receives the revenue by way of taxation from industry should provide some support in the event that the industry is in trouble.
(4) Why will the state government not give financial assistance to the struggling Western Australian rock lobster fishers? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am currently considering advice from the department on this issue. I note that in August 2006 the former Minister for Fisheries was presented with advice on the introduction of a unit register but this was not progressed. (2) Yes. (3) I wrote to Minister Burke on 28 July. I have not yet received a response. However, Minister Burke has released a media statement on the matter. (4) Existing legislation provides limited opportunities for the government to provide financial support to WA rock lobster fishers. Nevertheless, I am exploring all possible avenues such as reducing the licence fees and reforming the existing cost recovery funding arrangements. I wish to add to that by saying that the revenues that are received from the fishing industry by way of taxation are received by the federal government. Indeed, if the federal government finds it appropriate to provide financial assistance to struggling farmers in the event of very difficult circumstances, there is no reason why it cannot do the same with fishermen. It is appropriate that the government that receives the revenue by way of taxation from industry should provide some support in the event that the industry is in trouble.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am currently considering advice from the department on this issue. I note that in August 2006 the former Minister for Fisheries was presented with advice on the introduction of a unit register but this was not progressed. (2) Yes. (3) I wrote to Minister Burke on 28 July. I have not yet received a response. However, Minister Burke has released a media statement on the matter. (4) Existing legislation provides limited opportunities for the government to provide financial support to WA rock lobster fishers. Nevertheless, I am exploring all possible avenues such as reducing the licence fees and reforming the existing cost recovery funding arrangements. I wish to add to that by saying that the revenues that are received from the fishing industry by way of taxation are received by the federal government. Indeed, if the federal government finds it appropriate to provide financial assistance to struggling farmers in the event of very difficult circumstances, there is no reason why it cannot do the same with fishermen. It is appropriate that the government that receives the revenue by way of taxation from industry should provide some support in the event that the industry is in trouble.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am currently considering advice from the department on this issue. I note that in August 2006 the former Minister for Fisheries was presented with advice on the introduction of a unit register but this was not progressed. (2) Yes. (3) I wrote to Minister Burke on 28 July. I have not yet received a response. However, Minister Burke has released a media statement on the matter. (4) Existing legislation provides limited opportunities for the government to provide financial support to WA rock lobster fishers. Nevertheless, I am exploring all possible avenues such as reducing the licence fees and reforming the existing cost recovery funding arrangements. I wish to add to that by saying that the revenues that are received from the fishing industry by way of taxation are received by the federal government. Indeed, if the federal government finds it appropriate to provide financial assistance to struggling farmers in the event of very difficult circumstances, there is no reason why it cannot do the same with fishermen. It is appropriate that the government that receives the revenue by way of taxation from industry should provide some support in the event that the industry is in trouble.
(1) I am currently considering advice from the department on this issue. I note that in August 2006 the former Minister for Fisheries was presented with advice on the introduction of a unit register but this was not progressed. (2) Yes. (3) I wrote to Minister Burke on 28 July. I have not yet received a response. However, Minister Burke has released a media statement on the matter. (4) Existing legislation provides limited opportunities for the government to provide financial support to WA rock lobster fishers. Nevertheless, I am exploring all possible avenues such as reducing the licence fees and reforming the existing cost recovery funding arrangements. I wish to add to that by saying that the revenues that are received from the fishing industry by way of taxation are received by the federal government. Indeed, if the federal government finds it appropriate to provide financial assistance to struggling farmers in the event of very difficult circumstances, there is no reason why it cannot do the same with fishermen. It is appropriate that the government that receives the revenue by way of taxation from industry should provide some support in the event that the industry is in trouble.
(2) Yes. (3) I wrote to Minister Burke on 28 July. I have not yet received a response. However, Minister Burke has released a media statement on the matter. (4) Existing legislation provides limited opportunities for the government to provide financial support to WA rock lobster fishers. Nevertheless, I am exploring all possible avenues such as reducing the licence fees and reforming the existing cost recovery funding arrangements. I wish to add to that by saying that the revenues that are received from the fishing industry by way of taxation are received by the federal government. Indeed, if the federal government finds it appropriate to provide financial assistance to struggling farmers in the event of very difficult circumstances, there is no reason why it cannot do the same with fishermen. It is appropriate that the government that receives the revenue by way of taxation from industry should provide some support in the event that the industry is in trouble.
(3) I wrote to Minister Burke on 28 July. I have not yet received a response. However, Minister Burke has released a media statement on the matter. (4) Existing legislation provides limited opportunities for the government to provide financial support to WA rock lobster fishers. Nevertheless, I am exploring all possible avenues such as reducing the licence fees and reforming the existing cost recovery funding arrangements. I wish to add to that by saying that the revenues that are received from the fishing industry by way of taxation are received by the federal government. Indeed, if the federal government finds it appropriate to provide financial assistance to struggling farmers in the event of very difficult circumstances, there is no reason why it cannot do the same with fishermen. It is appropriate that the government that receives the revenue by way of taxation from industry should provide some support in the event that the industry is in trouble.
(4) Existing legislation provides limited opportunities for the government to provide financial support to WA rock lobster fishers. Nevertheless, I am exploring all possible avenues such as reducing the licence fees and reforming the existing cost recovery funding arrangements. I wish to add to that by saying that the revenues that are received from the fishing industry by way of taxation are received by the federal government. Indeed, if the federal government finds it appropriate to provide financial assistance to struggling farmers in the event of very difficult circumstances, there is no reason why it cannot do the same with fishermen. It is appropriate that the government that receives the revenue by way of taxation from industry should provide some support in the event that the industry is in trouble.
I wish to add to that by saying that the revenues that are received from the fishing industry by way of taxation are received by the federal government. Indeed, if the federal government finds it appropriate to provide financial assistance to struggling farmers in the event of very difficult circumstances, there is no reason why it cannot do the same with fishermen. It is appropriate that the government that receives the revenue by way of taxation from industry should provide some support in the event that the industry is in trouble.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more