The foundation of this new policy to ban the Abel Tasman is based on a brief media blitz by the greens and GetUp.

A brief review of the status of the Abel Tasman's application so far is:

1.- It is nearly 2 years since the first application to bring the (now) Abel Tasman super trawler to fish an agreed quota, with government agreement all the way, and the operation about to commence.
2.- There has been a long review process with strict operating conditions that the trawler operator has agreed to meet to reduce the bi catch to below that which smaller trawlers would catch.
3.- there is a complete absence of any scientific evidence of environmental damage, beyond what smaller trawlers with the same quota would cause.

The result of this is that the trawler owner has incurred millions in costs that would have been avoided if these concerns had been raised earlier, with a fat compensation payout (funded by taxpayers) to follow.

Secondly, Labor has shown outside investors again that on a whim, the Australian government can change its mind and leave investors in the lurch similar to the last episode of media induced policy being the Live exports to Indonesia which came close to ruining an entire industry and creating bad will with our closest neighbor.

Much harder for the government.
They must put in place a policy that best serves all.
While Abbott,s is written, on every issue, just say no.

Bull Belly. they bought themselves another month in power by kowtowing to the greens yet again.

Disgusting bunch of {snip].

Belly,

Given your previous posts where you queried the validity of the protest against the trawler, I am surprised to see you supporting the legislation.

Federal legislation should be a considered response to a real problem, or opportunity. Legislation, that was not even considered a week ago, written almost on the back of a cigarette box, to respond not to a problem, but to a political opportunistic that is devoid of any scientific evidence is a mockery.

Already the poo is hitting the fan:

"THE Netherlands has insisted the Gillard government explain its decision to bow to a pressure group-led campaign and effectively ban a Dutch-Australian super-trawler from fishing in Australian waters for two years."

and "Seafish Tasmania is considering its legal options, including compensation"

Even Oakeshott, a staunch Labor supporter wants to know what has changed in the last 2 weeks from when Labor said there was no scientific evidence to stop the trawler.

This legislation stinks and is the Live export fiasco all over again.

Strange, I thought that listening to an overwhelming majority expressed what democracy is all about. And changing a law has always been adopted to express the values and needs of a changing society. Such change has always been opposed by those in the grip of insatiable greed. History is replete with such examples.

Parliament has been captured by the money millionairs for far too long. It has taken a 'hung parliament' to challenge that domination. The independants and greens are receiving their vitriol for undermining their power. It has always been so. But this time the people voice must prevail. Diminishing recources in a changing world mean that future generations are depending on us.

Gun Boat

One word, incompetence.

BTW, I am opposed to the super trawler, but once again labor is caught short.

Can some one let the LNP know when they are finished playing politics.