Dr WOODRUFF question to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCES, Mr ABETZ
On Sunday, 180 locals packed the Sandford Hall, outraged that 50 open water pens are to be moved into their precious space. Today, a petition with over 4000 signatures gathered by Friends of the Bay will be tabled in the other place, and we are honoured to have representatives of that group here with us in the Chamber today. Southern beach residents are forming a new group to oppose the further fish farm expansion into Storm Bay. They are seeing the pollution and damage to inshore bays from intensive salmon operations firsthand. Home to the red handfish and the epicentre of surfing and recreational fishing in southern Tasmania, this region is also a growth area for young families because of its beauty and the intrinsic wildlife in the marine area. The message from these residents is a clear, resounding ‘no’ to salmon farming in these bays.
The SPEAKER – I am very sorry, but the time for asking the question has expired.
Dr WOODRUFF – Will you listen to them or will you force them to defend their waterways? Because, make no mistake, they will be doing that.
The SPEAKER – The time for asking the question expired, but Hansard heard it. The minister can address it if he would like to, but I am in a difficult position. I will call the minister if he is comfortable to answer.
ANSWER
The government will be guided by the science on this, not the fundraising needs of the Bob Brown Foundation.
Dr Woodruff – Local communities, voices of residents.
Mr ABETZ – Let us be very clear on this. We will be guided by the science. We will be guided by the Environmental Protection Agency. We will be guided by IMAS and other scientific evidence as to where and how fish farming should and could be located.
Dr Woodruff – You are not even pretending to talk to communities; they have not been talked to about this.
The SPEAKER – Order, Leader of the Greens.
Mr ABETZ – The simple fact is that as the wild catch fishery is now exceptionally limited, we have to farm fish.
Dr Woodruff – You are going to get rid of the rest of –
The SPEAKER – Order, Leader of the Greens.
Mr ABETZ – If we are wanting to provide the essential ingredient of fish to our fellow human beings, we need to farm it to ensure there is sufficient for what most medical experts suggest is needed for good human health, and that is a feed of fish at least once a week, if not twice a week. The wild sea fishery can no longer sustain that, therefore we only have one option: do not do it, or go into fish farming. We are going into fish farming and we make no apology for that.
Dr Woodruff – Move it onto land.
The SPEAKER – The Leader of the Greens is warned.
Mr ABETZ – There will be times when government and the community have to balance competing interests. In an ideal world you would want everything to be absolutely pristine, but if everything were to be absolutely pristine we would not have cars, or houses to live in. It is a question of how you balance that in a reasonable and sensible way, which is why we have scientific experts helping guide us as to what is sustainable within Storm Bay, Macquarie Harbour and elsewhere to ensure that we get the balance right. That is what we as a government are seeking to do and, as the minister for Resources responsible for fish farming, that is what I am seeking to do as well.
It stands to reason that from time to time there will be elements within the community that are not completely satisfied in relation to these matters. I note from the Greens it is no dams, no fish farming, it is no, no, no. Every now and then we blame the opposition for relentless negativity, but I have to say the Greens take the cake.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker.
The SPEAKER – I do not think I can allow a supplementary question because your first question actually was not in order because you did not ask it until after your time had expired. I apologise, but you have one minute, which is what you negotiated, for asking questions. You did not get to your question in the one minute. The minister answered it anyway. I cannot allow a supplementary.
Mr ABETZ – I was very veracious in answering.
Dr Woodruff – You did not say you’d consult with the community.
The SPEAKER – To be fair, you should not ask him questions because it just makes you angry, Dr Woodruff.
Dr Woodruff – Some people are angry, actually. They are upstairs.
The SPEAKER – I know they are upstairs. You have mentioned it several times. The interjections will cease and I will take someone who has not interjected, so that will not be you, member for Clark, but the other member for Clark should not be punished for that, so I call Ms Johnston.
