Border and fisheries officers seized and destroyed these illegal fishing boats in October. Picture: ABF
The Northern Territory Government is calling for a stronger federal response to illegal fishing boats and people smuggling.
The call follows an alert to police of nine Chinese nationals walking on the road on Tuesday night towards Gunbalanya, in western Arnhem Land.
Fisheries Minister Gerard Maley wants greater action and resources from Australian Border Force (ABF), and other federal agencies.
“Our government is deeply concerned about the current response to illegal foreign fishing boats in Northern Territory waters,” he says.
“Biosecurity is a critical priority of our government, and the arrival of unlawful foreign nationals poses a significant risk to our economy, environment, and communities.”
Border and fisheries officials have intercepted 139 foreign fishing boats this financial year so far: CLICK HERE FOR THE EARLIER NEWSCOP STORY
Maley says he raised his concerns directly with the ABF Commissioner and with Federal Minister for Northern Australia Madeleine King in Canberra last week.
“I have written to NT Federal Members Luke Gosling, Marion Scrymgour, and Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, urging them to lobby their federal colleagues for a more robust response,” he said.
Maley says he asked ABF to deploy more ships to NT waters, expand surveillance and focus on prosecuting and deterring illegal activities.
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He describes the current response as insufficient and placing significant response pressures on NT Police and Aboriginal Marine Rangers.
The NT Commissioner of Police, Michael Murphy, has also been in talks with the ABF and Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) for more resources.
“This is not a challenge the NT can tackle alone. The Commonwealth must step up to meet its obligations and provide the resources and support necessary to safeguard our waters, environment, and primary industries,” says Maley.
The NT’s agriculture and fisheries sector is worth $1.3 billion.
Maley says the risks are not only economic and environmental but biosecurity-related, with concerns about diseases such as Lumpy Skin Disease, Foot and Mouth Disease, and the H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza.
Australia is currently the only continent free from this strain of bird flu.
