Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) recognises:

  (i) the sovereign right of Indigenous Australians to hunt culturally significant species under the Native Title Act 1993 (the Act), and

  (ii) while native title was envisaged to maintain this cultural connection, hunting rights under the Act must still be subject to laws which relate to animal cruelty; and

(b) notes that:

  (i) the populations of both dugongs and sea turtles have declined significantly over the last 15 years,

  (ii) this population decline is due to cumulative pressures, such as ocean acidification, pollution, commercial fishing and other human impacts that include Indigenous hunting,

  (iii) protections for dugong and turtle populations from threats of poaching, illegal commercial trade and illegal transportation were supposedly enhanced in 2013 by the tripling of financial penalties for such practices within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park,

  (iv) there is little information regarding the number of dugongs and sea turtles killed by hunters, and there have been credible allegations raised within local Indigenous communities of animal cruelty committed by those who purport to be hunting under native title,

  (v) such allegations include the use of high-power motorboats, machetes and other cruel methods which maim animals and leave them suffering before dying,

  (vi) Indigenous leaders are calling out for help to ensure that culturally significant practices are not undermined by the illegal actions of others,

  (vii) several Indigenous clans have adopted sustainable take practices through Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreements and some have called for zero take of endangered species, and

  (viii) in the first sitting week of 2019, Senator Hinch will be introducing a bill to stop the cruel slaughter of endangered creatures, like dugongs and sea turtles.

Question agreed to.