Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Abetz, I move:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes:

(i)   the devastating impact that marine pests have on our marine environment and valuable fisheries sector,

(ii)   the particular damage that has been caused across Australia by the Northern Pacific Seastar (Asterias amurensis),

(iii)   the support that the previous Howard Government gave to the pilot study into management of the Northern Pacific Seastar and the National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions in Tasmania, and

(iv)   the critical need to act to control the Northern Pacific Seastar before spawning begins in July;

(b)   condemns the Rudd Labor Government for refusing to fund this urgent action; and

(c)   calls on the Government to urgently reconsider its position and fund the control program.

Question agreed to.