Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Carr. Can the government confirm that one of Australia’s key fisheries protection ships, the Oceanic Viking, has been unable to carry out its fisheries protection duties because it has instead been a home for unauthorised arrivals for more than nine days due to the government’s bungled border security crisis? Will the government inform the Senate whether or not Australian Fisheries Management Authority officers assigned to the ship are able to carry out their normal duties?

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for his question. I am advised that the government has funded the vessel for additional northern waters protection. I have no further information in regard to that matter, and I will be happy to take further requests for information on notice.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Will the government inform the Senate when the Oceanic Viking will be able to resume its important duties of protecting Australia’s fisheries and apprehending illegal fishermen, or has its role now been consigned to rescuing the Prime Minister’s bungled unauthorised arrivals policy?

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When it is not undertaking specific tasks in the Southern Ocean, the Oceanic Viking is available for other border protection duties, under the control of Border Protection Command. In May 2009, the budget provided for additional funding for the Oceanic Viking to be used for an extra 80 days per annum in northern waters in response to maritime people smuggling.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I would invite the minister to read comments coming out of the CCAMLR meeting that is being conducted in Hobart at the moment about the protection of Australia’s Southern Ocean fisheries. Is the government’s decision to assign fishing protection resources, such as the Oceanic Viking, to housing unauthorised arrivals opening up Australia’s fisheries to illegal fishing boats, allowing them to exploit our fishing stocks and putting at risk the livelihoods of Australia’s hardworking fishermen—including the tuna fishing fleet at Port Lincoln, which has been devastated by recent cuts to quota?

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The senator has clearly had difficulty hearing my original two answers, in which I have indicated to him, now on two occasions, that the government has provided additional resources—through additional funding in the budget—to provide for this particular function. The Australian government is fighting illegal foreign fishing in our northern waters to protect our seafood industries and our environment. Illegal fishing impacts on the sustainability of our fish stocks. The government does not resile from that commitment in any way, and we are undertaking all the necessary measures to guard this country against illegal foreign fishing.