Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges that the Western Australian Government's shark drum line program ceased on 30 April 2014, and that the Western Australian Government has applied to extend it for a further 3 years;

(b) notes that:

(i) 172 sharks were caught on the drum lines, 48 sharks were destroyed, 20 died on the drum lines, and an unknown number died after being released,

(ii) the cull caught at least 110 sharks under 3 metres in length, despite the Western Australian Government's commitment to mitigate the risk of this happening,

(iii) 5 short fin mako sharks were caught and 4 died during the cull, and

(iv) the Minister for the Environment has determined that an environmental assessment of the proposed extension of the cull be undertaken, but has delegated responsibility for the assessment back to the Western Australian Government;

(c) condemns the unnecessary deaths of these sharks; and

(d) calls on the Federal Government to ensure that no further shark deaths occur by ending its support for this policy.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Commonwealth Minister for the Environment has required full environmental assessment under national environmental law for the Western Australian Shark Hazard Mitigation Drum Line Program. The program will be assessed by Western Australia under the existing bilateral agreement, an agreement that was put in place by the Labor Party and has been in operation since 2012. This process is not new. It was established and has been supported by the Labor Party, and the final approval rests with the minister.

Question agreed to.