Mr MITCHELL - 1998-08-19
I recall attending an environment ministers’ conference a couple of years ago. One of the big problems raised concerned ballast waters coming from ships. With our new port about to open, what input has Arts and Museums had into protecting our waterways, especially Ludmilla Creek, when international ships come in?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, indeed, the government is concerned to protect our waterways from marine pests, and we are doing something about it. A major study is being carried out on the Port of Darwin. That survey is being undertaken jointly by marine scientists from the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and the CSIRO’s Centre for Research on Introduced Marine Pests - better known as CRIMP. That survey commenced this week. The study is being undertaken as part of a national program of Australian port surveys to identify marine pests which have been introduced by ships discharging ballast water.
The transport of marine pests in ballast waters is a major concern for international and coastal shipping. Around 145 million tonnes of ballast water is released in Australian coastal waters each year from international shipping, and a further 34 million tonnes is released by local coastal shipping. Obviously, that has a potential to affect the waters in our own port.
More than 100 exotic species of marine life have been identified in Australian waters. I have brought along a few pictures. This is a toxic dinoflagellate, a rather curious-looking creature. This is the European giant fan-worm, also a cause for concern among our scientists. This is the Northern Pacific sea-star. Another that we have concerns about is the European shore crab, which could cause a great deal of harm in the Territory.
We are very lucky that at the present time there are no known - and I emphasise ‘known’ - introduced marine pests in the Northern Territory. But there is a great deal of concern about the potential threat from their impact on the marine environment. The Territory government has taken a very pro-active stance on this marine pest issue. The baseline survey of the Port of Darwin will determine whether marine pests do exist in Darwin Harbour, and provide an assessment of the risk of future introduction of marine pests associated with ballast water and hull fouling, which is another area of concern.
We as a government have maintained, by the diligence and the actions of different departments, one of the cleanest harbours in Australia today. It is certainly very important to the future development of Darwin as a commercial hub to achieve both national and international recognition as a clean port. I look forward to the information that the survey is going to provide and I congratulate the Museums and Art Galleries staff who have been heavily involved in the research. I think all those other people who have maintained our harbour in its pristine condition over the years deserve recognition. The community should be aware that this government will continue to ensure that we maintain our waterways and harbours at the present very high standard.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, indeed, the government is concerned to protect our waterways from marine pests, and we are doing something about it. A major study is being carried out on the Port of Darwin. That survey is being undertaken jointly by marine scientists from the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and the CSIRO’s Centre for Research on Introduced Marine Pests - better known as CRIMP. That survey commenced this week. The study is being undertaken as part of a national program of Australian port surveys to identify marine pests which have been introduced by ships discharging ballast water.
The transport of marine pests in ballast waters is a major concern for international and coastal shipping. Around 145 million tonnes of ballast water is released in Australian coastal waters each year from international shipping, and a further 34 million tonnes is released by local coastal shipping. Obviously, that has a potential to affect the waters in our own port.
More than 100 exotic species of marine life have been identified in Australian waters. I have brought along a few pictures. This is a toxic dinoflagellate, a rather curious-looking creature. This is the European giant fan-worm, also a cause for concern among our scientists. This is the Northern Pacific sea-star. Another that we have concerns about is the European shore crab, which could cause a great deal of harm in the Territory.
We are very lucky that at the present time there are no known - and I emphasise ‘known’ - introduced marine pests in the Northern Territory. But there is a great deal of concern about the potential threat from their impact on the marine environment. The Territory government has taken a very pro-active stance on this marine pest issue. The baseline survey of the Port of Darwin will determine whether marine pests do exist in Darwin Harbour, and provide an assessment of the risk of future introduction of marine pests associated with ballast water and hull fouling, which is another area of concern.
We as a government have maintained, by the diligence and the actions of different departments, one of the cleanest harbours in Australia today. It is certainly very important to the future development of Darwin as a commercial hub to achieve both national and international recognition as a clean port. I look forward to the information that the survey is going to provide and I congratulate the Museums and Art Galleries staff who have been heavily involved in the research. I think all those other people who have maintained our harbour in its pristine condition over the years deserve recognition. The community should be aware that this government will continue to ensure that we maintain our waterways and harbours at the present very high standard.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016