❓ Fish stocks—Protection 546. ������ Mrs Kirrilee Warr to the Premier: I refer to the diabolical situation in Western Australia's fisheries sector after eight years of this Labor government, with fish s
AnsweredQoN 546Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Fish stocks—Protection
546. ������ Mrs Kirrilee Warr to the Premier:
I refer to the
diabolical situation in Western Australia's fisheries sector after eight years
of this Labor government, with fish stocks now depleted across large sections
of the state's coastline. The Premier's minister recently claimed that
everything is on the table when it comes to addressing this issue.
(1) If everything is truly on the table, will the
Premier ensure that all future decisions on WA's fish stock management are
based on accurate data and internationally reviewed science?
(2) Does the Premier accept that a one-day fishing
forum is entirely inadequate to address the scale of this crisis?
(3) Will the Premier take immediate action by
committing to a full parliamentary inquiry into the management and
sustainability of Western Australia's fisheries?
546. ������ Mrs Kirrilee Warr to the Premier:
I refer to the
diabolical situation in Western Australia's fisheries sector after eight years
of this Labor government, with fish stocks now depleted across large sections
of the state's coastline. The Premier's minister recently claimed that
everything is on the table when it comes to addressing this issue.
(1) If everything is truly on the table, will the
Premier ensure that all future decisions on WA's fish stock management are
based on accurate data and internationally reviewed science?
(2) Does the Premier accept that a one-day fishing
forum is entirely inadequate to address the scale of this crisis?
(3) Will the Premier take immediate action by
committing to a full parliamentary inquiry into the management and
sustainability of Western Australia's fisheries?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I thank the member for the question;
it is an important one that will impact not only current generations of Western
Australians but future generations of Western Australians. Jobs, our way of
life and our biodiversity are at stake and it is important that we do
everything we can and take every opportunity to ensure that as a community, we
work together to protect these important fish stocks.
The latest science shows that
our demersal fish species are under serious threat. The future of pink snapper,
red emperor and WA dhufish are at severe risk and Kimberley red emperor,
Pilbara goldband snapper, south coast pink snapper, bight redfish and western
blue groper are at high risk. Recreational and commercial fishers have been
following the rules, but the measures in place have not been enough to allow
stocks to recover. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development advises that all options must now be on the table to address
ongoing fishing pressures that are halting our fish stock recovery.
Yesterday's
fish forum was about the opportunity for all these stakeholders to be in the
room, to take responsibility and commit together to do everything we can to
ensure that we protect these fish species. We have done this before. Our rock
lobster industry species management is seen as one of the world leaders in
sustainable fisheries management. It is important that everyone understands
that we all have an obligation to do everything we can to resolve these issues.
We are led by the science.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, the Premier
is responding to the question. If you have another question, you cannot ask it
today but maybe your colleague can ask it on your behalf.
Mr Roger Cook: We are led by the data and the Minister
for Fisheries released that data just a few short months ago to provide the
community with the opportunity to see what the scientists are seeing so that we
all understand the responsibility and what we have at stake.
At the forum,
stakeholders implored those in the room to not let this matter or the decision
become political. I call on the member for Geraldton to heed that request. This
is not a political issue. This is not something that she can drag around for
some sort of rank political opportunism. This is something that we all must
take responsibility for, regardless of what position we happen to be in now.
This has not
occurred over the last eight years; this is something that has occurred over
decades, which we are seeking to reverse. This is not a topic around which
opposition members should seek to gain some sort of political leverage, a way
to sow a little bit of division or to try to pit one group of stakeholders
against another. Now is the time—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members. Member for Central Wheatbelt.
Mr Roger Cook: Now is the time for us to work
together, not to seek to try to divide or confuse the community through overly
politically motivated language. This is beyond politics. This is not about my
generation.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition.
Mr Roger Cook: This is not about politics. This is not
about my government. This is not about the previous government. This is about
future generations. This is about what we as a society will do with the
situation that we have inherited from previous fishery—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Member for Central Wheatbelt.
Leader of the National Party.
Mr Roger Cook: We all know that fishing is not driven
by politics. Fisheries policies are driven by the science. The data is in. We
cannot argue with the data.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition, if you keep
interjecting, you will not get your supplementary question. Premier.
Mr Roger Cook: We have to respond as a community to
the current set of circumstances, but we do that through a lens of maturity and
responsibility in a way that harnesses the motivations and spirit of the whole
community to ensure that we act as one to protect this incredibly important
piece of our biodiversity.
it is an important one that will impact not only current generations of Western
Australians but future generations of Western Australians. Jobs, our way of
life and our biodiversity are at stake and it is important that we do
everything we can and take every opportunity to ensure that as a community, we
work together to protect these important fish stocks.
The latest science shows that
our demersal fish species are under serious threat. The future of pink snapper,
red emperor and WA dhufish are at severe risk and Kimberley red emperor,
Pilbara goldband snapper, south coast pink snapper, bight redfish and western
blue groper are at high risk. Recreational and commercial fishers have been
following the rules, but the measures in place have not been enough to allow
stocks to recover. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development advises that all options must now be on the table to address
ongoing fishing pressures that are halting our fish stock recovery.
Yesterday's
fish forum was about the opportunity for all these stakeholders to be in the
room, to take responsibility and commit together to do everything we can to
ensure that we protect these fish species. We have done this before. Our rock
lobster industry species management is seen as one of the world leaders in
sustainable fisheries management. It is important that everyone understands
that we all have an obligation to do everything we can to resolve these issues.
We are led by the science.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, the Premier
is responding to the question. If you have another question, you cannot ask it
today but maybe your colleague can ask it on your behalf.
Mr Roger Cook: We are led by the data and the Minister
for Fisheries released that data just a few short months ago to provide the
community with the opportunity to see what the scientists are seeing so that we
all understand the responsibility and what we have at stake.
At the forum,
stakeholders implored those in the room to not let this matter or the decision
become political. I call on the member for Geraldton to heed that request. This
is not a political issue. This is not something that she can drag around for
some sort of rank political opportunism. This is something that we all must
take responsibility for, regardless of what position we happen to be in now.
This has not
occurred over the last eight years; this is something that has occurred over
decades, which we are seeking to reverse. This is not a topic around which
opposition members should seek to gain some sort of political leverage, a way
to sow a little bit of division or to try to pit one group of stakeholders
against another. Now is the time—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members. Member for Central Wheatbelt.
Mr Roger Cook: Now is the time for us to work
together, not to seek to try to divide or confuse the community through overly
politically motivated language. This is beyond politics. This is not about my
generation.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition.
Mr Roger Cook: This is not about politics. This is not
about my government. This is not about the previous government. This is about
future generations. This is about what we as a society will do with the
situation that we have inherited from previous fishery—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Member for Central Wheatbelt.
Leader of the National Party.
Mr Roger Cook: We all know that fishing is not driven
by politics. Fisheries policies are driven by the science. The data is in. We
cannot argue with the data.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition, if you keep
interjecting, you will not get your supplementary question. Premier.
Mr Roger Cook: We have to respond as a community to
the current set of circumstances, but we do that through a lens of maturity and
responsibility in a way that harnesses the motivations and spirit of the whole
community to ensure that we act as one to protect this incredibly important
piece of our biodiversity.
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