Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you ,Senator Whish-Wilson, for the question. I appreciate, also, that we had some opportunity to get some briefing, which I will add to if it's insufficient. I understand that the Threatened Species Scientific Committee did meet last week in relation to the maugean skate. I am also advised that the committee have yet to provide the minister with a formal recommendation to change the status of the skate. I'm advised that the primary threat to the maugean skate is reduced water quality in Macquarie Harbour, particularly decreased levels of dissolved oxygen. Whilst the committee is considering this matter in order to be able to determine whether it will recommend and what the content of a formal recommendation to change the status of the skate to the minister would be, I'm advised that in the meantime there is action underway. The federal and Tasmanian governments are working with experts and stakeholders to update the existing conservation advice for the species, to host a series of workshops to better understand the threats and critical conservation actions for the maugean skate, to convene a recovery team and to identify funding for conservation actions. I'm also advised there is work underway to identify possible funding for emergency research. There has already been in excess of $500,000 invested from the federal government for priority maugean skate recovery.

Obviously, we are in a situation where under the previous government this portfolio was substantially neglected. Ms Plibersek has made clear the importance of protecting more of what is precious and repairing more of what is damaged. (Time expired)