Abbott Government fails to protect our waters and fishing grounds from criminals

Today, Australian Greens spokesperson for fisheries Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said the Abbott Government is failing to protect Australia’s sovereign waters and fishing grounds from criminals, breaking yet another election promise. A “purple notice” – a formal notification to provide information on modi operandi, procedures, objects, devices and concealment methods of criminals – was issued last week by Interpol for the fishing vessel “Thunder” currently suspected to be operating in the Southern Ocean.

“Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Southern Ocean is a major issue – not only does it impact on our fisheries, but it finances organised crime gangs,” Senator Whish-Wilson said.

“We’ve been asking for the Government to meet its election commitment of sending a purpose-built customs vessel, that’s ice-rated for the Southern Ocean, down to patrol our territorial waters.

“It’s clear as daylight that the boat that’s necessary to keep these criminals at bay in the Southern Ocean, the ACV Ocean Protector, is being diverted to another activity, and that’s being an expensive water taxi off Christmas Island.

“Before the election the Coalition promised it would not divert resources away from illegal fishing patrols but today we have the ice-rated Ocean Protector diverted to tropical northern waters as part of ‘Operation Sovereign Borders’.

“Failing to send an Australian Customs vessel to the Southern Ocean is actually breaking two promises – the other to monitor the Japanese whaling fleet currently on its way to illegally hunt whales in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary.

“Tony Abbott and the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture with responsibility for Fisheries, Senator Richard Colbeck, must explain when they will meet their promise to the fisheries sector and send a customs vessel to the Southern Ocean to attempt to stop these illegal activities,” Senator Whish-Wilson concluded.

Authorised by Senator Peter Whish-Wilson. Parliament House, Canberra, ACT 2600
Australian Greens spokesperson for fisheries Senator Peter Whish-Wilson