Super trawler bill still uncertain

12 Sep 2012, 9:00 pm   -   Source: AAP

The federal government's bill to prevent a super trawler from fishing in Australian waters is still without resolution.

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The federal government's "rush job" to ban a controversial super trawler from Australian waters has hit a snag despite it buckling to pressure from recreational fishers to amend the bill.

Wary crossbenchers and a raft of amendments prevented a vote on the bill on Wednesday, gifting Seafish Tasmania director Gerry Geen more time to lobby MPs in the hope of avoiding a multimillion dollar failure of his company's super trawler venture.

Environment Minister Tony Burke wants to stop the 142m trawler Abel Tasman from fishing in Australian waters for two years while an expert panel gathers scientific evidence about the impact of such a large-scale operation on the local marine environment.

If passed, the bill will effectively ban the largest "fish factory" of its kind to enter Australian waters from trawling for its allocated 18,000 tonne catch.

The government has the support of crossbenchers Andrew Wilkie and Adam Bandt but they're also pushing for an amendment to have super trawlers banned for good from Australian waters.

Key independent Tony Windsor is still undecided, while support is expected from Queensland MP Bob Katter, who is also reportedly moving an amendment.

Fellow independent Rob Oakeshott criticised the legislation as a "rush job" and "a bit of a moving feast" with the number of amendments proposed, and isn't likely to support it.

Suspended Labor MP turned crossbencher Craig Thomson offered his support for the ban only if the bill changed the words "fishing activities" to "commercial fishing activities" so as to not inadvertently impact on recreational fishing.

Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt told parliament the coalition would oppose the bill but would support an amendment which would immediately give the government "move-on" powers for large vessels of concern.

He branded the bill a "Trojan horse operation" aimed at giving Mr Burke unprecedented and "unfettered" ministerial powers that had nothing to do with protecting fish stocks.

"It is about attacking every family fishing operation in Australia and every recreational fishing community in Australia," Mr Hunt told parliament.

Other coalition MPs attacked the minister for seeking "unlimited powers" and warned the very act of fishing was under threat.

Mr Burke sought to assure Mr Thompson by telling parliament amendments would be made so recreational fishing was not caught in the legislation's firing line.

He challenged the opposition to back the bill.

"You may as well be standing on the deck, hauling in the net if you are going to oppose this legislation," Mr Burke he said.

The vessel is already in Australia, having made the voyage from the Netherlands, after what Seafish says was years of negotiation with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA).

The Australian fishing regulator previously had found "no evidence" larger vessels such as the Abel Tasman pose a higher risk to fish stocks or by-catch.

Mr Geen accused Mr Burke of "trashing" AFMA's scientific findings and labelled the bill a "political ploy".

"Feels like a third world country reaction to me - I think this is just unbelievable," Mr Geen told ABC radio.

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