Marine research and industry collaboration
1.1
Coalition Senators note that the Australian Government already plays a
significant role in funding and supporting connections between industry and
research organisations.
1.2
The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, a statutory
corporation, provides planning and investment advice and support in fisheries
research, development and extension activities across Australian fisheries,
including with respect to the impact of climate change on fishing activities.
1.3
Increased funding to support connections between the fishing industry
and research organisations could help industry in meeting the challenges and
opportunities of the effects of climate change on fisheries.
1.4
Any additional funding would need to be considered in the context of
other budget priorities and should be outcomes focused.
Aquatic biosecurity and emergency response
1.5
Coalition Senators note that the Australian Government is currently
working with state and territory governments and industry to develop a formal
industry–government aquatic emergency animal disease response agreement,
referred to as the 'Aquatic Deed'.
1.6
It is anticipated that the Aquatic Deed will include requirements around
the distribution of information in responding to biosecurity challenges.
1.7
The development of the Aquatic Deed is expected to allow for rapid
responses to emergency aquatic animal disease incidents, provide incentives for
early reporting of disease occurrence and support the development of strong
risk mitigation measures.
1.8
These measures would also support trade and market access.
Landcare and marine
1.9
Coalition Senators note that marine conservation in inshore waters is
largely the responsibility of state and territory governments. Where the
Commonwealth does invest in marine conservation, especially within the
Commonwealth's jurisdiction, Coalition Senators point to the wide variety of
conservation activities supported by the Australian Government. These
activities include: regulatory measures aimed at safeguarding matters of
national environmental significance; measures to improve onshore catchment
management; marine debris clean-up; management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park; and management of Australia's network of Commonwealth Marine Parks.
1.10
In terms of the National Landcare Program, Coalition Senators highlight
the continuing and longstanding commitment of the Australian Government to
natural resource management, with more than $1 billion invested for phase two
of the Program, which will be delivered from July 2017 to June 2023, as
announced in the 2017–18 Budget.
1.11
The phase two investment includes:
-
$450 million for the Regional Land Partnerships Program to
deliver natural resource management at a regional scale;
-
funding for additional biosecurity measures to support the
eradication of the Red Imported Fire Ant;
-
$47.4 million for the management of our treasured World Heritage
sites;
-
$24.7 million towards delivering the Reef 2050 Long-Term
Sustainability Plan, in addition to the $83 million already allocated under
the Program to implement the Plan from 2018–19 to 2021–22;
-
$93 million for the ongoing support of existing Indigenous
Protected Areas plus $15 million in new funding;
-
funding for the establishment of the $20 million Centre for
Invasive Species Solutions to drive research, development and extension
activities to protect native ecosystems and habitats from pest animals and
weeds; and
-
$5 million for an environment small grants program which local
community and environment groups can access (up to $50,000) for local natural
resource management activities.
Engagement of Traditional Owners and Indigenous Protected Areas
1.12
Coalition Senators support appropriate and proportional consultation
strategies for consulting with Indigenous fishers on relevant fisheries
management matters.
1.13
Coalition Senators note that Indigenous fishing primarily occurs in
state managed waters and, as such, there is limited intersection of Indigenous
fishing issues with Commonwealth fisheries management, with the exception of
the Torres Strait fisheries and the Northern Prawn Fishery.
1.14
Enhancing engagement between Traditional Owners, government and research
agencies in relation to climate change can provided benefits toward management
of the marine estate by Traditional Owners.
1.15
Consideration would need to be given to the appropriate models for
engagement and resourcing requirements. Funding would need to be considered in
the context of other budget priorities and should be outcomes focused.
1.16
Coalition Senators note that the rights of Indigenous fishers are
already recognised in Torres Strait fisheries and are central to the management
of fisheries in the Torres Strait under the Protected Zone Joint Authority. The
Queensland Government also has a role in the management of fisheries under the
Protected Zone Joint Authority.
Offshore Constitutional Settlement arrangements
1.17
Coalition Senators note that the Australian Government is working with
jurisdictions to resolve all shared fisheries and fish stocks subject to
inconsistent management arrangements through reforms to Offshore Constitutional
Settlement (OCS) arrangements.
1.18
The Australian Government, in consultation with the state and Northern
Territory governments, has identified priority issues that need addressing and
will continue to consider inconsistent management arrangements between
jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the costs and the
net benefits of potential reforms.
1.19
Resolving some OCS matters can be very resource intensive. Priority
issues are determined on the assessment of likely returns. Cross-jurisdictional
cooperation is hampered by differing fisheries management objectives and
approaches between jurisdictions.
1.20
Coalition Senators note that without significant efforts to harmonise or
implement consistent harvest strategy regimes, including the use of output
controls, such as individual transferable quota and individual transferable
effort regimes, and resource allocation policies, efforts for greater cross-jurisdictional
cooperation may have limited effectiveness.
State and territory recreational fisheries
1.21
Coalition Senators highlight that recreational fishing activity is not
managed by the Commonwealth. Implementation of a harmonised licence is
primarily a state and territory issue that would need to be driven by state and
territory governments. Coalition Senators note that some jurisdictions and
recreational fishers are strongly opposed to recreational fishing licences.
1.22
Coalition Senators recognise that a harmonised low-cost recreational
fishing licence across all Australian jurisdictions could assist in
implementing mechanisms to enhance data collection arrangements for
recreational fishing and support better management of the resource for all
users.
1.23
However, Coalition Senators recognise the varying licence programs
implemented by states and the Northern Territory and the differing reasons for
and roles these programs play.
1.24
Coalition Senators further note that the collection of national
recreational fishing data requires the cooperation of state and territory
governments, including financial and in-kind support, and the resolution of a
range of technical issues to capture appropriate information from a highly
diverse and fragmented sector.
1.25
The implementation of a comprehensive national survey was costed at
$6.8 million. State and territory governments have indicated they are not
in a position to co-fund a national recreational fishing survey.
1.26
The Australian Government has agreed to a national survey of recreational
fishers in 2018, which will collect information on social and economic
contribution.
Greenhouse trigger
1.27
Coalition Senators hold concern for the recommendation that a greenhouse
trigger be considered for inclusion in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Emissions management needs to be on a
landscape scale, either national or international, rather than at a project
scale. Coalition Senators regard other instruments as more appropriate
mechanisms to deal with emissions than the EPBC Act.
National Oceans Commissioner
1.28
The Coalition Senators support the longstanding roles of dedicated
Commonwealth agencies which manage our marine environment including, but not
limited to, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park Authority, Parks Australia, the Australian Fisheries Management
Authority, Australian Antarctic Division and Geoscience Australia.
Marine Protected Areas
1.29
Coalition Senators support the existing regulatory arrangements that give
effect to management of Commonwealth marine reserves. Within this existing regulatory
framework, the Australian Government has committed to maintaining the National
Representative System of Marine Protected Areas.
1.30
Coalition Senators note that an extensive consultation process,
supporting a review, for Australia's network of Marine Parks in the South-west,
North-west, North and Temperate East Networks and the Coral Sea was completed
in September 2017.
1.31
It is intended that the draft management plans for these parks will seek
to balance protecting important marine habitats and features, while providing
opportunities for people to continue to use and enjoy these unique areas. The
draft plans also propose a targeted approach to zoning in marine parks that would
appropriately protect conservation features (like canyons, seamounts and reefs)
while enabling economically important activities like fishing and tourism to
continue.
1.32
Final management plans for these five regions will set out the approach
Parks Australia will take in managing the marine parks over the next ten
years. Provisions in the plans will protect important marine habitats and
features, while providing opportunities for people to continue to enjoy these
unique areas.
1.33
The Government has committed $56.1 million over four years to develop
and implement these plans once finalised, including to support management,
research, user engagement and industry assistance for commercial fishers
directly affected.
Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan
1.34
Coalition Senators share the commitment to protecting the Great Barrier
Reef, a World Heritage site, for future generations and note that the
Australian Government is doing this through sound policy, substantial direct
investment, and world-class marine park management.
1.35
The Australian and Queensland governments developed the Reef 2050 Plan,
a 35-year blueprint to improve the health and resilience of the Reef. Together
with the Queensland Government, more than $2 billion will be invested in the
health of the Reef over the coming decade.
1.36
It is acknowledged that climate change is a threat to reefs worldwide
and Coalition Senators note the strong action already taken by the Australian
Government to address the global threat of climate change and the ratification
of the Paris Agreement. This ratification confirms Australia's ambitious
and responsible target to reduce emissions by 26–28 per cent below 2005 levels
by 2030 and to play its part in achieving zero net emissions in the second half
of the century. Australia's target is amongst the strongest of any G20 country
on a per capita basis.
1.37
The Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum met on 28 July 2017 and agreed
to the early, immediate commencement of the Reef 2050 Plan mid-term review to
identify and accelerate priority actions for managing the health of the Reef.
They also charged the Independent Expert Panel with developing problem
statements for an Innovation Challenge to encourage new ideas to protect the
Reef. The problem statements have been prepared and the Australian and
Queensland governments are now examining options for undertaking an Innovation
Challenge.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
1.38
Coalition Senators point out that the Australian Government is already
fully funding the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and, alongside the
Queensland Government, is investing $2 billion over the next decade to ensure
the health of the Reef. Coalition Senators recognise that every effort needs to
be made to mitigate the threats to the Great Barrier Reef and are committed to
its long-term protection and best practice management.
1.39
Coalition Senators also note that the Australian Government announced on
20 December 2016 a $124 million funding boost to the Authority over the
next ten years to augment its position as the lead Authority in Reef
management.
1.40
Further, to ensure the Authority's resources are being put to the most
efficient use, in March this year, the Australian Government commissioned an
independent review to determine whether the current arrangements continue to be
the best fit to support the Authority's important and challenging work over the
coming decades.
1.41
The Australian Government has released the review's report which
outlines governance recommendations to further strengthen the Authority.
1.42
Coalition Senators note that the Australian Government is currently
considering these recommendations and will soon provide a response to the
report.
Senator Jonathon
Duniam Senator Linda Reynolds CSC
Deputy Chair Senator
for Western Australia
Senator for
Tasmania
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