E&OE….
Topics: Increased turtle and dugong protection, Great Barrier Reef
KIER SHOREY:
The Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, joins us now to explain. Good morning, Mr Hunt.
GREG HUNT:
Good morning.
KIER SHOREY:
How much of a difference do you think a tougher penalty, such as this one, will make?
GREG HUNT:
Look, I think that they are absolutely essential. The reason why we’re doing this is there has been a problem of dugong and turtle poaching. We’ve had people such as Warren Entsch, who of course as the Member for Leichardt, has been the leader of it.
It’s been backed by Colin Riddell, it’s backed by Indigenous leaders who’ve spoken out already on ABC Radio saying this is important. Their good name is being misused by some who are poaching and these are magnificent, majestic creatures.
Tripling the penalties will help protect them, but we’re also backing it with $2 million for Indigenous rangers and $2 million for an Australian Crime Commission investigation into dugong and turtle poaching. So tougher laws, but tougher enforcement.
KIER SHOREY:
How will actually increasing the penalty help though, Greg Hunt, in that we have had laws that existed previously and not terribly many people have actually found themselves under the thumb of that particular law. Will the bigger penalties make that difference?
GREG HUNT:
Well I think when you have the combination of tougher laws and tougher enforcement that’s what works. It sends a message that we are deadly serious about protecting wildlife, protecting these creatures. I think having the Australian Crime Commission, which really is the toughest cop on the beat, investigating.
They’re looking for any illegal foreign poaching, they’re looking for any organised poaching and then the Indigenous rangers is a very important thing. I apologise for any background noise – I’m just being a dad this morning for a little while…
KIER SHOREY:
That’s entirely fine.
GREG HUNT:
…we’ve got our kids in the background in the car.
KIER SHOREY:
So look, Greg Hunt, then the idea of it then potentially affecting the rights that Native Title holders have to hunt these animals. Obviously Native Title holders will still want to be able to do traditional hunting in those areas. Will this affect that?
GREG HUNT:
No that doesn’t change the traditional rights, or the Native Title rights, at all. We’ve worked this through with traditional owners. They are the ones, in large part, along with Warren Entsch and Colin Riddell and many others, who said that these laws are needed, that the additional enforcement in particular is needed because there were people who were misusing the name, who were misusing the cover of traditional rights.
But the TO’s themselves have been tremendous. They want to protect and conserve the resources. We’ve established what are called Traditional Use Marine Reserve Agreements for dugong and turtle protection in a series of places along the Queensland coast.
Again, the TO’s have been the lead, but others will come in, basically encroach on their areas, pinch or poach the dugong or turtle population, cause damage and the TO’s are saying we need the enforcement. Which is why they are so strong, both on the laws, but in particular on the Indigenous ranger training and support.
KIER SHOREY:
And finally, Greg Hunt, will this move, this new legislation help to bolster the Federal Government’s credentials when it comes to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in its entirety? Of course there’s a couple of issues going on there in terms of the world heritage status and its potential threatened status. Does this help your case?
GREG HUNT:
Look, I think its all part of actually protecting the reef and saying to those who would want to criticise Australia – we are doing things that virtually no one else in the world is doing. We have ended five major inherited Labor proposals for disposal of spoil within the marine park. I have issued orders for a law which will ban forever, disposal of spoil in the marine park.
Nobody had ever done that before and these are huge and profound changes, along with a real improvement in water quality and attacking the Crown of Thorns. So big things, helping with the long-term future of the reef and my hope and belief is that it helps the reef and it will also deal with any criticisms from some of the green groups that are simply raising money off this campaign.
KIER SHOREY:
Greg Hunt, I really appreciate your time this morning, particularly in the car with the kids. Have yourself a good Friday and a good weekend.
GREG HUNT:
Thanks very much. Take care.
(ENDS)