Media release – The Australia Institute, 11 February 2021
Parliamentary inquiry into marine management urgently required
The Australia Institute Tasmania is calling for a parliamentary inquiry into how the Tasmanian Government is managing Tasmania’s marine environment.
The call comes in the wake of the announcement by the Tasmanian Government that it will continue its moratorium on marine protected areas.
“News that the Tasmanian government will continue its moratorium on marine protected areas is alarming. The science tells us Tasmania’s marine environment is in serious decline and the government refuses to even have a discussion about it,” said Eloise Carr, director of The Australia Institute Tasmania.
“It is time for a parliamentary inquiry into the management of Tasmania’s marine environment. Such an inquiry would facilitate an urgently need multi-party discussion about reforming the management of our marine environment.
“Victoria has recently modernised its legislative framework, while Tasmania has been ignoring the demise of our marine environment for more than a decade now.
“The current moratorium simply shuts down debate, helping the government avoid scrutiny and accountability for the deterioration of our marine environment and excluding the public from the debate,” Ms Carr said.
The Australia Institute Tasmania recently released a report showing an integrated approach to managing Tasmania’s coastal waters is needed between federal and state governments, and across sectors.
Key Recommendations from the report include:
- Design an integrated, ecosystem-based approach to managing Tasmania’s marine estate.
- Establish multi-disciplinary ecosystem condition assessments and reporting.
- Establish comprehensive, adequate and representative marine protected areas (MPAs) to conserve the region’s high global values, consistent with integrated ocean management.
- Undertake an independent review of Tasmania’s marine legislation and regulatory framework.
- Provide adequate resourcing for relevant agencies.
