Member for Grey, Rowan Ramsey visited Arno Bay’s Clean Seas hatchery last week with Tasmanian Senator Richard Colbeck – the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The visit was part of an EP-wide tour of local aquaculture and fishing industries.

Senator Colbeck played a pivotal role in stopping the Government’s move to place another $5 million of compliance costs on aquaculture and fishing exporters by removing support for the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS).

“Forcing inspection charges to rise by up to 100 per cent would have been particularly harsh on small and new exporters establishing themselves and the back down has been welcomed by all food industries” Mr Ramsey said. “These extra charges directly impacted on the kingfish operation at Arno Bay and at a time when all export industries are facing extremely difficult conditions caused by the exchange rate and depressed economic conditions in our target markets, could only lead to smaller businesses and less jobs”.