Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Burston for his question and for the advance notice of it. Obviously this is an issue that goes to state legislation, and it is a state matter. I have been informed, however, that the New South Wales parliament has just announced an inquiry into commercial fishing. That is due to report in February next year. As part of that inquiry, the Parliament of New South Wales will report on the business adjustment program, including on the relevance of a draft Productivity Commission report into marine fisheries and aquaculture. That Productivity Commission report, instituted by this government, recommended that New South Wales:

… move each of their fisheries to an individual transferable quota management system unless it is demonstrated that this is technically impractical or not cost effective. If individual transferable quotas are not used, fisheries should be managed using individual transferable effort systems.

That inquiry was established by this government, from terms of reference provided to the Productivity Commission. That inquiry and outcome came out of the consultations the government did in its agricultural white paper. We have a proud record of standing up for the commercial fishing sector, including through the measures in that white paper. Other measures we have taken in recent times include support to establish a commercial fishing body and funding to eradicate carp in our river systems. These are measures that we are taking to make sure that we support commercial fishing in this country. We have been longstanding supporters of the industry and we stand up, where necessary, for the rights of commercial fishing in this country, because it is such an important issue for our nation.