❓ Hon. Julie Freeman questions the Minister for Fisheries regarding the decision to permanently close the west coast demersal fishery beyond 2040, seeking clarification on whether the decision was based on DPIRD advice or solely ministerial discretion.
AnsweredQoN 1292Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Demersal fishing ban1292.Hon Julie Freemanto
theMinister for Fisheries:I refer to
Legislative Council question without notice 1256 answered on 9 December 2025,
which confirmed that the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development modelled the west coast demersal scalefish resource to recover to
target levels by 2040.(1) Did DPIRD provide any advice recommending that
the west coast demersal fishery be permanently closed beyond 2040 or was the
decision to make the closure permanent made solely by the minister?(2) Will the minister table all DPIRD advice,
modelling or documentation that recommended a permanent closure, and, if no
such advice exists, will the minister state that explicitly for the record?
theMinister for Fisheries:I refer to
Legislative Council question without notice 1256 answered on 9 December 2025,
which confirmed that the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development modelled the west coast demersal scalefish resource to recover to
target levels by 2040.(1) Did DPIRD provide any advice recommending that
the west coast demersal fishery be permanently closed beyond 2040 or was the
decision to make the closure permanent made solely by the minister?(2) Will the minister table all DPIRD advice,
modelling or documentation that recommended a permanent closure, and, if no
such advice exists, will the minister state that explicitly for the record?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 December 2025
Response time
0 days
Hon Jackie Jarvis replied:I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.(1) The Department of Primary Industries and
Regional Development advised a total closure was required to recover the west
coast demersal scalefish resource to target levels by 2040. Rather than suspend
these businesses' ability to fish for 15 years, which appears to be what the
member is inferring, I made the decision to provide a $20 million buyout of the
licences of the 41 boats fishing for demersal in the west coast bioregion. The
$20 million figure represents around four times the gross value product of
these fisheries.(2) I refer the member to the scientific stock
assessments that I tabled in this place on 18 September, and listed as tabled
papers 602, 603, 604, 605 and 606. The opposition has also been provided with
the science, and the shadow spokesperson for fisheries has been given briefings
by me, DPIRD scientists and attended the Fishing Futures Forum.
Demersal fishing ban
honourable member for some notice of the question.(1) The Department of Primary Industries and
Regional Development advised a total closure was required to recover the west
coast demersal scalefish resource to target levels by 2040. Rather than suspend
these businesses' ability to fish for 15 years, which appears to be what the
member is inferring, I made the decision to provide a $20 million buyout of the
licences of the 41 boats fishing for demersal in the west coast bioregion. The
$20 million figure represents around four times the gross value product of
these fisheries.(2) I refer the member to the scientific stock
assessments that I tabled in this place on 18 September, and listed as tabled
papers 602, 603, 604, 605 and 606. The opposition has also been provided with
the science, and the shadow spokesperson for fisheries has been given briefings
by me, DPIRD scientists and attended the Fishing Futures Forum.
Demersal fishing ban
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