Media Release | 3 November 2026
Kirrilee Warr MLA
Shadow Minister for Fisheries
Shadow Minister for Fisheries Kirrilee Warr MLA is demanding the Fisheries Minister explain why the Government proceeded with major changes to demersal fishing in the West Coast Bioregion before the publication of an independent review, following evidence given at the Parliamentary hearing into the demersal fishing ban.
On Tuesday, representatives from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) answered questions from the committee, one of which revealed Fisheries Occasional Publications 150 and 151, the response to independent assessment of the data, were not made available before the bans were announced.
Ms Warr said fishers were denied the opportunity to review the information, ask questions, and understand the basis for the Government’s decision.
“Today’s inquiry confirms what many Western Australians already knew: this was a plan without a plan,” she said.
“The Department revealed the review could not be published because not all the information had been finalised, which appears to contradict what the Minister has said.
“The Minister needs to be upfront and explain why these decisions were made, before the supporting information was made publicly available.
“Was this a case of making a decision first asking questions later?”
Ms Warr also questioned evidence given regarding the shark fishery, saying the Department’s advice did not align with the Government’s final decision.
“The Department confirmed the decision regarding gillnetters was a government decision and was different to the advice provided,” she said.
“This raises serious questions about why the Minister chose to depart from the advice of her own Department when making decisions that affect thousands of Western Australians along our coastline.
“If these decisions were not based on Departmental advice, the Minister must explain who influenced the final outcome.”
ENDS
