James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Australia continues to seek a responsible balance between shark conservation, beach protection measures and sustainable fisheries management. Without a reservation, the consequences of the listing will be to impose more onerous obligations on Australia than for other parties to the convention. This is due to provisions in Australia's domestic legislation. The combination of the reservation, sound domestic fisheries management measures and ongoing strong participation in the convention's memorandum of understanding on the conservation of migratory sharks brings Australia's response into line with that of all other convention parties.