Mr BAYLEY question to PREMIER, Mr Rockliff, ON BEHALF OF MINISTER FOR PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT
My question is to the Minister for Parks and Environment, and in his absence, the Premier. Premier, Right to Information documents released to the Tasmanian Inquirer have exposed yet another case of industrial fish farming operations resulting in terrible animal cruelty and the culling of native wildlife to protect the profits of big business. The documents show hundreds of cormorants entered fish cages with substandard netting at a lease near Cunningham late last year. Thirty-six of these beautiful birds died in shocking circumstances, caught up in the netting.
Worse still, your government then permitted another 56 cormorants to be shot and killed by Tassal. These events follow numerous examples of seals being harmed and killed by industrial fish farm operations. Premier, why is your government approving fish farm companies to inflict such harm on native wildlife with these culls? And what action are you taking against Tassal for the failures on its part: the substandard netting that resulted in the tragic death of nearly 100 native birds?
ANSWER
Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I thank the member for his question and interest in this matter. The Property Protection Permits are an operational matter for NRW, as you will appreciate, Mr Bayley. Importantly, these types of permits were also in existence under the previous Labour-Greens government, just to give you a bit of a history perspective there. That is often good to put forward.
Due process was followed in assessing the application for the Shepherds marine lease. I am advised that the birds were culled humanely through an appropriately granted limited take permit process. All reasonable efforts were made by the company to manage the birds prior to the permit being issued. Farming is an important sector of our economy, and farmers often need to manage wildlife to support the ongoing viability of their properties, whether that be on land or within the aquatic environment.
We will always support our farmers, whether they be marine farmers or land farmers. Permits to take wildlife to protect primary production and environmental values are issued following an assessment of damage; alternative management measures; species abundance; and requirements to protect animal welfare. Long-term population monitoring indicates that species subject to property protection permits species harvested as game or for which permits to take, are important to implement. I recognise the importance of the question, but this is a matter for NRE, and they take these matters very seriously.
Mr Bayley – We recognise this for NRE, but the minister is not here. That is why it is addressed to you, in line with your advice this morning.
The question was also what action are you taking against Tassal? These birds were in this situation because of substandard netting. We do not accept that the permits to cull were acceptable. You could release these birds through the netting. What action is being taken against Tassal to improve its facilities, so this does not happen again?
Mr Rockliff – I have detailed an answer to your question with respect to these matters. Their permits are issued under the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. They are permits to support, albeit in as humane a way as possible –
Mr BAYLEY – We understand that, but what about the netting? What about Tassal and action against them?
Madam SPEAKER – Thank you, you have asked your question twice, Mr Bayley.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Thank you, Madam Speaker. The question was really in relation to the permits and the culling, of which land-based farmers and marine based farmers –
Madam SPEAKER – Premier, the second part of the question was specifically about the netting.
Dr WOODRUFF – Are you going to have another cosy Liberal dinner party with Tassal this year?
Madam SPEAKER – Dr Woodruff, thank you. The second part of the question was specifically about the netting.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Thank you. I will respectfully ignore your question by interjection, Dr Woodruff; that is not called for. Of course, we support our farmers. We support our aquaculture industry pertaining to –
Madam SPEAKER – The Premier’s time has expired, and the members for the Greens shall respect that.
