Hon. Bruce Donaldson asks about delays in compensation for fishermen affected by Ningaloo Marine Park closures and the status of draft policy guidelines. Minister Ford acknowledges the delays, citing departmental staffing issues, expresses disappointment, and promises to investigate and review the policy document by October.

AnsweredQoN 787Legislative Council
Asked
20 September 2006
Portfolio
Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

NINGALOO MARINE PARK - COMPENSATION FOR AFFECTED FISHERMEN
Commercial fishermen in the Western Australian marine aquarium fishery were the fishermen most affected by closures in the Ningaloo Marine Park extensions. The closures at Ningaloo occurred on March 2005 and a letter dated August 2005 states that the Department of Fisheries was putting together a process for compensation and that it would contact the fishermen when it was ready. The fishermen are still waiting. (1) When will the minister ensure that the marine park and reserves compensation bill will be enacted to compensate the affected commercial fishermen? (2) When will the minister make a decision on the draft ministerial policy guidelines given to him by the Department of Fisheries in February or March this year? Hon JON FORD

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question. (1)-(2) I have received a number of briefing notes on this issue. The delays are unfortunate. The department cited staffing issues as the reason for the delays. Some staff have relocated and something happened to the person who was there. I instructed the department that that was not a good enough reason for the delays and that it was to get on with it. Until that moment I was working under the understanding that discussions were already proceeding. I am very disappointed that it sounds as though they are not proceeding. I will make inquiries of the department and get back to the member. In regard to the policy statement, I am not happy with the current management plan as it relates to aquarium specimen collectors. I have asked for an urgent review to be completed by October, at which stage I will sign off on the policy document.
(1) When will the minister ensure that the marine park and reserves compensation bill will be enacted to compensate the affected commercial fishermen? (2) When will the minister make a decision on the draft ministerial policy guidelines given to him by the Department of Fisheries in February or March this year? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question. (1)-(2) I have received a number of briefing notes on this issue. The delays are unfortunate. The department cited staffing issues as the reason for the delays. Some staff have relocated and something happened to the person who was there. I instructed the department that that was not a good enough reason for the delays and that it was to get on with it. Until that moment I was working under the understanding that discussions were already proceeding. I am very disappointed that it sounds as though they are not proceeding. I will make inquiries of the department and get back to the member. In regard to the policy statement, I am not happy with the current management plan as it relates to aquarium specimen collectors. I have asked for an urgent review to be completed by October, at which stage I will sign off on the policy document.
(2) When will the minister make a decision on the draft ministerial policy guidelines given to him by the Department of Fisheries in February or March this year? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question. (1)-(2) I have received a number of briefing notes on this issue. The delays are unfortunate. The department cited staffing issues as the reason for the delays. Some staff have relocated and something happened to the person who was there. I instructed the department that that was not a good enough reason for the delays and that it was to get on with it. Until that moment I was working under the understanding that discussions were already proceeding. I am very disappointed that it sounds as though they are not proceeding. I will make inquiries of the department and get back to the member. In regard to the policy statement, I am not happy with the current management plan as it relates to aquarium specimen collectors. I have asked for an urgent review to be completed by October, at which stage I will sign off on the policy document.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question. (1)-(2) I have received a number of briefing notes on this issue. The delays are unfortunate. The department cited staffing issues as the reason for the delays. Some staff have relocated and something happened to the person who was there. I instructed the department that that was not a good enough reason for the delays and that it was to get on with it. Until that moment I was working under the understanding that discussions were already proceeding. I am very disappointed that it sounds as though they are not proceeding. I will make inquiries of the department and get back to the member. In regard to the policy statement, I am not happy with the current management plan as it relates to aquarium specimen collectors. I have asked for an urgent review to be completed by October, at which stage I will sign off on the policy document.
I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question. (1)-(2) I have received a number of briefing notes on this issue. The delays are unfortunate. The department cited staffing issues as the reason for the delays. Some staff have relocated and something happened to the person who was there. I instructed the department that that was not a good enough reason for the delays and that it was to get on with it. Until that moment I was working under the understanding that discussions were already proceeding. I am very disappointed that it sounds as though they are not proceeding. I will make inquiries of the department and get back to the member. In regard to the policy statement, I am not happy with the current management plan as it relates to aquarium specimen collectors. I have asked for an urgent review to be completed by October, at which stage I will sign off on the policy document.
(1)-(2) I have received a number of briefing notes on this issue. The delays are unfortunate. The department cited staffing issues as the reason for the delays. Some staff have relocated and something happened to the person who was there. I instructed the department that that was not a good enough reason for the delays and that it was to get on with it. Until that moment I was working under the understanding that discussions were already proceeding. I am very disappointed that it sounds as though they are not proceeding. I will make inquiries of the department and get back to the member. In regard to the policy statement, I am not happy with the current management plan as it relates to aquarium specimen collectors. I have asked for an urgent review to be completed by October, at which stage I will sign off on the policy document.

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