Ian Gilfillan: Australian Democrats in the SA Parliament

	Extract from Hansard Legislative Council 15 May 2001

Ian Gilfillan Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council		Parliament Index 2001 Autumn Sitting Index Browse by Subject Search all Democrats material About the SA Parliament Hansard on line

The Hon. K.T. GRIFFIN: The Deputy Premier, Minister for Primary Industries and Resources, and Minister for Regional Development has provided the following information:

The Department of Primary Industries and Resources (PIRSA) Fisheries Compliance Officers are deployed across the State to ensure compliance with the Fisheries Act 1982. 43 officers and staff are located at Streaky Bay, Port Lincoln, Kadina, Birkenhead, Loxton, Kingston (SE) and Mount Gambier. The number of officers has varied in recent years (53 in 1997-98) as a result of negotiated service level agreements with the fishing industry and maintaining a no policy change on the Government funded side of the equation. This is currently under review and will be addressed in 2001-02. The deployment of officers throughout the State is reviewed annually with reference to information received from all sources to address areas of high compliance risk.

1. The allegation that morale within the Fisheries Compliance Unit is low is refuted by the results of an independent report on workplace stress levels conducted in June 200 that concluded:

"It is worth noting that the Compliance profile of results is among the healthiest which the consultant has found in any organisation, and the healthiest for a Government department".

2. Reviews of the fisheries compliance function in recent years has been driven by changing Government direction and the need to adopt a more strategic approach to compliance. The cost recovery process, fee for service approach and the Government Management Framework are examples of these drivers of change. The most recent restructure was implemented in 2000 under the project "Meeting the Challenges of a Competitive Environment". The Fisheries Compliance Unit is now very adaptive to change demonstrating an environment of continuous improvement and a serious commitment to the policy direction of government.

It was during one of these restructuring processes in 1994 that the very successful FISHWATCH and FISHCARE Volunteer Programs were introduced and their success is evident today. The development and introduction of the Diploma in Fisheries Compliance Management in 1997 has resulted in a unit of qualified fisheries compliance officers.

"The consultant notes that the very successful organisational model used in the Compliance Unit provides a benchmark for what is possible in Fisheries in relation to effective management. The consultant is of the view that adoption of similar processes and approaches more widely in the organisation will provide many benefits".

Additionally independent surveys of customer segments have been conducted during the past two years with results used to continually assess and improve the delivery of fisheries compliance programs to ensure both effectiveness and efficiency.