Urgent diplomatic action demanded on rock lobster export crisis
• Chinese shut down Australia’s rock lobster export market
• Tens of millions of dollars of lobsters on boats, in factories set to go to waste
• Industry accuses Government of inaction and buck-passing
The livelihoods of Australia’s rock lobster fishermen have been put at massive risk by the Gillard Labor Government which has failed to take effective action on the closure of the Chinese export market.
On midnight on the 15th of November the Chinese immediately shut down majority access of Australian rock lobsters into that export market through Hong Kong.
Today, the access to China was shut completely.
The Australian rock lobster industry, particularly in Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia, but also other states, is now in a massive state of shock and disbelief.
Coalition spokesperson for Fisheries Senator Richard Colbeck said the industry is deeply concerned about the level of inaction by the Federal Government in solving this serious issue.
“Two weeks have passed since the shut-down and no one in the industry knows what the government is doing, if anything,” Senator Colbeck said.
“Industry sources tell me Government agencies are more interested in buck-passing than taking effective action.
“There are tens of millions of lobsters sitting on boats about to come into port or in processing plants with no market. Either the lobsters are left to die or are thrown over the boat if alive.
“I understand a very small amount of exports got into China – under strict and expensive tariff conditions – following November 15th. The very last shipment took sixteen hours to clear customs and had a mortality rate of almost 50 per cent. That was clearly unacceptable and totally unviable for the industry.
“I can’t express my concern about this matter strongly enough.
“I have urgently sought a briefing from the office of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Joe Ludwig and hope to find out why the Government has not taken effective action over the past two weeks.
“Make no mistake, the livelihoods of hundreds of rock lobster fishermen and their communities are at enormous risk.
“Nothing less than urgent Ministerial intervention is required to fix this issue. And if that means Minister Ludwig flying to China to speak with officials then that should occur.”
ABC Online: HERE
