Mrs HICKEY - 2000-06-15
The minister has constantly asserted, both in this House and the media, that the jellyfish harvesting operation at King Ash Bay consists merely of, and I quote: ‘Shadecloth covered structure’. Will he concede that filmed evidence as shown on Imparja television on Thursday 26 May revealed a very different story? Will the minister also concede that in addition to 2 shade-covered structures there is a large accommodation block for the Chinese workers, that a large number of trees have been destroyed to make room for a conveyor system from the river to the bank, and that human faeces litters the bushes to the rear of the site?
Does the minister believe that this is acceptable or does he concede that his inaction and negligence has allowed this inappropriate development to occur?
ANSWER
Firstly, Mr Speaker, let me say that, as Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, I issued a licence to take jellyfish. The issues in relation to land-based activities would normally fall within the precept of the minister for Lands, Planning and Environment. However, let me say that in issuing the jellyfish licence we took note of the need to be conservative in our management regime.
I spoke yesterday to the World Wildlife Fund people who were visiting Darwin and they raised the issue of the jellyfish licence. I am not aware that they have particular concerns in relation to the taking of the jellyfish; they just wanted to ensure that our management regime was conservative and we were able to properly monitor the taking of jellyfish. I understand that so far this year no jellyfish have turned up within the McArthur River so it has had negligible impact upon the fisheries.
In relation to the construction of shade-house structures, or portable accommodation buildings, I understand that is done with the consent of the King Ash Bay Game Fishing Club. I understand it’s on land that is owned and controlled by the King Ash Bay Game Fishing Club. One would think the management of that land, be their human excrement spread in the bushes nearby, be there trees that have been destroyed - and I don’t know what type of trees but I should imagine there would be several billion of the similar types of tree in the near vicinity. However, I will ask my fisheries officers. They would need to act in conjunction with the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment’s department and if there are issues concerned in relation to that particular establishment, I am sure they will take it up with the management of the King Ash Bay Game Fishing Club.
Does the minister believe that this is acceptable or does he concede that his inaction and negligence has allowed this inappropriate development to occur?
ANSWER
Firstly, Mr Speaker, let me say that, as Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, I issued a licence to take jellyfish. The issues in relation to land-based activities would normally fall within the precept of the minister for Lands, Planning and Environment. However, let me say that in issuing the jellyfish licence we took note of the need to be conservative in our management regime.
I spoke yesterday to the World Wildlife Fund people who were visiting Darwin and they raised the issue of the jellyfish licence. I am not aware that they have particular concerns in relation to the taking of the jellyfish; they just wanted to ensure that our management regime was conservative and we were able to properly monitor the taking of jellyfish. I understand that so far this year no jellyfish have turned up within the McArthur River so it has had negligible impact upon the fisheries.
In relation to the construction of shade-house structures, or portable accommodation buildings, I understand that is done with the consent of the King Ash Bay Game Fishing Club. I understand it’s on land that is owned and controlled by the King Ash Bay Game Fishing Club. One would think the management of that land, be their human excrement spread in the bushes nearby, be there trees that have been destroyed - and I don’t know what type of trees but I should imagine there would be several billion of the similar types of tree in the near vicinity. However, I will ask my fisheries officers. They would need to act in conjunction with the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment’s department and if there are issues concerned in relation to that particular establishment, I am sure they will take it up with the management of the King Ash Bay Game Fishing Club.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016