ILLEGAL FISHING —
NIIWALARRA
939. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to an ABC report on 29
August referring to recent reports of the establishment of a camp by illegal
fishers from Indonesia on Niiwalarra—Sir
Graham Moore Island—which is within our state's North Kimberley
Marine Park.
(1) When did the
minister become aware of the reported incursions?
(2) Has the
minister deployed additional resources to the Kimberley region; and —
(a) if not, why
not?
(b) if yes, what
are these?
(3) What representations or arrangements have been
made with the commonwealth since the reported incursion to increase
collaboration between deployed resources of the state and commonwealth?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The question was asked on 21 September so the
answer is current as at that date.
(1) The Minister
for Environment's office was made aware of this matter following a media
inquiry on Thursday, 25 August 2022.
(2) The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and
Attractions is currently on patrol in the North Kimberley Marine Park. This routine patrol commenced on 19
September 2022 and will visit Niiwalarra—Sir Graham Moore
Island. A primary task of this patrol includes the removal and disposal of
material and rubbish associated with unlawful camping that has occurred on the
island.
(3) The Department of Home Affairs, Australian Border
Force, through the Maritime Border Command, is the lead agency for
dealing with foreign fishing vessel activities. DBCA's Kimberley region
staff are actively involved in interagency collaboration through response
planning and joint patrols with commonwealth and other state government
departments operating in the Kimberley region.