Information about the Inquiry

Border Protection Legislation Amendment (Deterrence of Illegal Foreign Fishing) Bill 2005

Information about the Inquiry

On 9 March 2005, the Senate referred the provisions of the above bill to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 10 May 2005.

The legislation seeks to improve Australia's regime relating to illegal fishing. It amends legislation to bring consistency between the current detention arrangements provided under the Fisheries Management Act 1991 and the Migration Act 1958. It also strengthens the powers relating to search (including persons) and to forfeiture of vessels, together with extending offences against officer's under the Fisheries Management Act 1991 and the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 to all who perform duties or exercise powers under the Acts. The legality of detaining people on suspected illegal fishing vessels is clarified.

The Committee is interested in comments on any provision of the legislation but is particularly interested in comments on the appropriateness of the detention regime, and the accountability mechanisms for the use of search powers (which may be granted to contractors).

The Bill, Explanatory Memorandum and the Second Reading Speeches may be accessed at below.

Inquiries from hearing and speech impaired people should be directed to the Parliament House TTY number (02) 6277 7799. Adobe also provides tools for the blind and visually impaired to access PDF documents. These tools are available at: http://access.adobe.com/. If you require any special arrangements in order to enable you to participate in a committee inquiry, please contact the committee secretary.

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone: +61 2 6277 3511
Fax: +61 2 6277 5811
Email: rrat.sen@aph.gov.au