Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

In relation to the government response to the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee report on factory freezer trawlers in the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery, I move:

That the Senate take note of the document.

This is another committee that the Greens worked with Labor on. We were the chair of this committee. There are some very important recommendations in this. Recommendation 1 was that the committee recommended a ban on all factory freezer midwater trawlers from operating in the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery.

One of the biggest campaigns I've seen since my time as a senator has been against two super trawlers that have come to these waters. I'm not surprised that the government has rejected that recommendation of the Senate references committee. There are a number of other recommendations there that the government will take on notice. I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.