E&OE….
Topics: Turtle and dugong protection plan
PHIL STALEY:
Now, an investigation into the illegal killing and poaching of turtle and dugong meat is to be carried out by the Australian Crime Commission as part of a move to crackdown on wildlife traffickers.
The Federal Government is providing $5 million towards a dugong and turtle protection plan, which will include $2 million – the Australian Crime Commission investigation. The Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, can explain how the investigation will be carried out.
Greg Hunt, good morning.
GREG HUNT:
And good morning, Phil, and good morning, listeners.
PHIL STALEY:
Greg Hunt, now for starters you’re lucky that I’m not asking you to sing Pavarotti because that’s the theme of the program this morning.
GREG HUNT:
No, you’re lucky that you’re not asking me to do Pavarotti. I can guarantee that your sort of listener base would collapse in a nanosecond.
PHIL STALEY:
Alright. We won’t go about that, but let’s talk about this new project. What’s it all about? You’re trying to focus on dugong and turtle meat. I mean, how prominent is this that you’re investigating?
GREG HUNT:
Look, it’s part of a broader plan to work with traditional owners, who have really been driving it, to ensure that we’re protecting against poaching of dugongs and turtles. The Indigenous elders and leaders have been very clear in saying to me and to us that their good name is being misused by poachers, who are coming in, taking dugongs and turtles, and then transporting them for meat.
The Australian Crime Commission has been empowered and funded to the tune of $2 million. They will look at the issue of dugong and turtle poaching as part of a broader wildlife trafficking issue. I’ve got to say the traditional owners and the elders have been fantastic.
They are the ones leading this and showing responsibility and seeking help and in particular what we’re doing is backing them with an additional $2 million on top of the Crime Commission funding for training and putting in the field Indigenous rangers and giving them the authority to really control and exercise responsibility over their own areas. So they’re showing leadership and we’re backing and supporting them.
PHIL STALEY:
Minister Hunt, obviously the investigation is about to start, but do you have an idea of if the said poachers are Australian or coming from overseas?
GREG HUNT:
Look, obviously it’s not right for me to speculate on the details of an investigation. The broad point which I’ve discussed with the Crime Commission is that there are those that are coming in and you’ve got a mixture of some who may be in northern waters, not from Australia, and then some who may be Australian but in no way, shape or form connected with the traditional owners and elders and managers of particular lands so I think these are important points.
The Crime Commission will, you know, carry out its work in the way in which they do any investigation and the nature of it is that they hold those details until such time as they believe there are grounds for a prosecution. And what we are saying to the poachers is don’t encroach on traditional lands, don’t encroach on the work of Indigenous elders. They are really taking the lead on this. Groups such as the Dugong and Turtle Taskforce have really been outstanding managers.
We’re also developing what are called TUMRAs or Traditional Use Marine Reserve Areas where the Indigenous communities are themselves managing, stewarding, taking care of not just dugong and turtle populations but general populations of the marine environment and this is why we’re backing them with the support for training and funding Indigenous rangers.
PHIL STALEY:
My guest is the Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt. Minister Hunt, it sounds like the traditional owners who do traditionally hunt for this sort of thing have approached you and asked for this. Is that how this has come about?
GREG HUNT:
Well, we’ve had a variety of approaches but I’ve had many discussions with traditional owners who have said, look, we are just not equipped to deal with the poachers, we’re not equipped to deal with those who are using our name and they are – you know, I’ve found very strong support.
Now, there will be different views from different people but generally I’ve got to say that those that live on the land and have a connection with the country have been extremely supportive. Right now we’re working on what is called a TUMRA or a – you know, effectively one of these agreements with the traditional owners in the Yarrabah area.
I think this is extremely important. It’s highly symbolic and part of the arrangement is that they get the support for not just training, but helping to have a permanent Indigenous ranger presence drawn from their community. So there are many people who’ve been involved in this. They are also backing…
PHIL STALEY:
How severe will the penalties be, Minister Hunt?
GREG HUNT:
Well, we have a tripling of penalties for poaching under the Federal Environment Act, which is before the Senate right now. It’s been blocked, believe it or not, by Labor and the Greens for over six months. You know, the Greens are holding up a tripling of penalties for the poaching of dugongs and turtles. It is – it’s sort of inconceivable in the sort of degree of negativity which is on show here.
It’s like, here is a simple piece of legislation which will triple penalties, which will support what traditional owners and elders are doing, and for some inexplicable reason, they’re always finding an excuse to take other things on, which are just not acceptable to the government and which have absolutely nothing to do with dugongs and turtles and their protection.
PHIL STALEY:
Aside from those tripling of the fines, then, is this whole project got a timeframe, Minister Hunt?
GREG HUNT:
Look, a Crime Commission investigation takes as long as Crime Commission investigation requires and I’m not meaning to be coy on that. It’s theirs to run. Once they are running an operation, I don’t want to know the details. I simply want to know the outcomes.
Our approach, through the Minister for Justice Michael Keenan and in my meetings with the senior leadership of the Crime Commission has been to say that there is significant evidence which has been claimed and everything has been submitted to them, which had been received. I know many people have already started the process of providing evidence and meeting with the Crime Commission.
It will cover Queensland, but they also have the authority to deal – and I’ve discussed this with the Crime Commission – with any allegations arising in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. So it’s broad-ranging. They have the capacity to act. They do make the point that frequently, this type of activity is linked to broader wildlife trafficking issues. It could be things such as cassowaries or other vulnerable species.
PHIL STALEY:
Thanks for your time this morning, Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt. I appreciate it.
GREG HUNT:
No, look, it’s a real pleasure.
PHIL STALEY:
And last time, if you want to sing Pavarotti, it’s now or never.
GREG HUNT:
I think I’ll take the never option.
PHIL STALEY:
Pleasure to talk to you this morning.
GREG HUNT:
Bye.
PHIL STALEY:
That’s Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt.
(ENDS)