Sailing away … Rally goes ahead

Fishing and environment groups welcome the passage of super trawler Bill through Lower House
Thursday 13 September

Environment and fishing groups welcome the decision by the majority of the Lower House today to pass the amendment to the EPBC Act that will stop the super trawler for two years.

“We congratulate the Labor Party, the Greens and the Independents for listening to the concerns of the public and scientists, and supporting the Bill through the lower house to protect our fisheries and marine life from this super trawler,” said Rebecca Hubbard, Environment Tasmania’s Marine Coordinator.

“The Bill has got over its first major hurdle and we hope it will be passed swiftly through the Senate so that our fisheries can be protected from this super trawler, and the science can be done to improve management overall,” said Nobby Clark, President of the Tuna Club of Tasmania.

• For breaking news use the TT NEWS Dropdown menu (top nav bar).

• Christine Milne: Super trawler stalled, but Oakeshott wants to restart its engines

The super trawler F.V. Margiris has been stalled by the amendment to the Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 passing the House of Representatives today, but Rob Oakeshott’s amendments are bad for fisheries and bad for communities, the Australian Greens said today.

“People across the community will be relieved that the super trawler has been stalled, but I cannot fathom why Rob Oakeshott wants to start its engines again as soon as possible,” Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

“Rob Oakeshott has sold out the future and sold out fishing communities by inserting a sunset clause and taking the economic and social impacts of the super trawler out the of equation.

“Everywhere around Australia, concern has been not only been about the impact on the environment but also that the super trawler would put out of business fishing communities around the country, including in Mr Oakeshott’s home of Port Macquarie. They will be deeply disappointed that Mr Oakeshott isn’t concerned about their livelihood or recreation.

“There are just too many risks surrounding the operation of an industrial scale trawler in Commonwealth waters and this is the culmination of many months of fact-finding and working with relevant stakeholder groups,” Senator Peter Whish-Wilson stated.

“I look forward to grilling the Fisheries Minister in the Senate next week as to what exactly the Government is proposing during the hiatus period on ‘super trawling’ the bill provides for.

“Our preferred result would have been to have had a blanket ban on such vessels and a cancellation of the existing quotas while more research was undertaken.

“At least we now have some clear water to sit back and take a good look at how AFMA has handled this issue.

“It’s pretty clear there are still myriad unanswered questions surrounding just who has been working on bringing the Margiris to Australia for almost seven years.”

The bill is expected to go before the Senate early next week.

• Andrew Wilkie:

I am absolutely thrilled that the House of Representatives this afternoon passed legislation banning the super trawler from fishing in Australian waters for up to two years.

This is a huge win for the countless Australians who oppose such factory ships and the impact they would have on the environment, recreational fishing and existing commercial operators.

The Federal Government, and Environment Minister Tony Burke in particular, should be applauded for finally intervening to stop this super trawler.

This is also a win for proper process and the rule of law.

There has been a big question mark over the Australian Fisheries Management Authority’s handling of this issue, and the Government’s acknowledgement this afternoon that it does in fact have concerns with AFMA backs up the serious matters I’ve raised repeatedly with the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

The Commonwealth Ombudsman is investigating AFMA at my request.

Download copies of the paper trail between AFMA, the Commonwealth Ombudsman and myself:
Wilkie_to_Ombudsman_3_Aug_12.pdf
AFMA_to_Wilkie_1_Aug_12.pdf
Wilkie_to_Ombudsman_17_Aug_12_REDACTED.pdf
Ombudsman_to_Wilkie_20_Aug_12.pdf
Wilkie_to_Ombudsman_26_Jul_12.pdf

• No Super Trawlers Rally Reinforces Support For Ban

What: No Super Trawlers Rally

With the Bill to ban the super trawler passed through the Federal House of Representatives, and still to make it through the Senate, speakers will talk about the impacts of super trawlers on our marine life and fishing, what still needs to be done to ban the super trawler, and the scientific facts on why we need more precautionary fisheries management

Where: Parliament House Lawns, Hobart
When: 11am Saturday 15 September
Who: Organized by Tuna Club of Tasmania, Environment Tasmania and GetUp

Speakers include:
Neil Nobby Clarke Tuna Club
Rebecca Hubbard Environment Tasmania
Paul (Basil) O’Halloran MP Greens Member for Braddon
The Hon Julie Collins MP ALP Member for Franklin
Dr Jonathan Neville retired scientist, political analyst and author of recent book “Overfishing under Regulation”
Andrew Wilkie MP Independent Member for Denison

Music by local artist ELFA

Supported by:
Gamefishing Club of Northern Tasmania, The Wilderness Society, Humane Society International, Surfrider Foundation Australia, Shepherd, Australian Marine Conservation Society, Tasmanian Conservation Trust, Conservation Council of Western Australia, Australian marine conservation Society, Australian Conservation Foundation, Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Conservation Council of SA, Fishers for Conservation, Ocean Planet Tasmania, Victorian National Parks Association, Greenpeace