Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges the efforts of the Sea Shepherd in tracking, locating and reporting to authorities the presence of illegal fishing vessels in the Southern Ocean; and

(b) calls on the Australian Government to meet its election commitment and immediately deploy a customs patrol vessel to the Southern Ocean to deter illegal fishing.

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a very short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave has been granted for one minute.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the Southern Ocean at the moment, dozens of brave souls on board Sea Shepherd boats are pursuing two illegal fishing vessels that have been operating down in Australia's area of economic interest. These vessels are taking Patagonian toothfish, which are very high-value fish. These activities impact on the Australian fisheries in the area and the gillnets in place, some of them up to 25 kilometres long, do extraordinary damage to the marine environment. They are banned by international law.

This government had very clear promises both in Senator Colbeck's portfolio and in Senator Hunt's portfolio that they would send a Customs vessel to the Southern Ocean. We had tripartisan support from a Senate inquiry that we would also send a Customs vessel to patrol for illegal fishing vessels in the Southern Ocean. The Royal New Zealand Navy has apprehended these vessels, but they are still there. Where is our Australian boat? I ask the Senate to support this motion. I ask the government to live up to its election promises and send the vessel that they promised to send. (Time expired)

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave has been granted for one minute.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service is committed to the protection of Australia's sovereign territories and interests in the Southern Ocean. Customs and Border Protection vessels, under the coordination of Border Protection Command, conduct patrols across Australia's various maritime zones—including the Southern Ocean—based on assessments of operational priorities across all maritime security threats. Customs deploy assets against a range of maritime threats. The Australians Customs and Border Protection Service does not comment on vessel positioning or deployment for operational security reasons. The government will not be supporting this motion.

Question negatived.