WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1983
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BILL TO DEAL WITH SEIZED MAR I CULTURE ITEMS
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A BILL TO SIMPLIFY PROCEDURE FOR CLEARING MARICULTURISTS WAS INTRODUCED AND READ A SECOND TIME BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, THE HON JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE BILL, THE MARINE FISH CULTURE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, WILL ENABLE THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES TO DISPOSE OF ITEMS SEIZED DURING CLEARANCE BY SELLING, DESTROYING OR OTHERWISE DISPOSING OF THEM AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER SEIZURE, HE EXPLAINED.
+ THE OWNERS OF THE ITEMS SO DISPOSED OF ARE ENTITLED TO CLAIM THE PROCEEDS OF SALES, IF ANY, AFTER DEDUCTION OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED, HE SAID.
DR RIDDELL-SWAN FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT IN IMPLEMENTING THE MARINE FISH CULTURE ORDINANCE, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO RELOCATE LARGE NUMBER OF MARICULTURISTS. IN DOING SO, IT MIGHT ALSO BE NECESSARY TO SEIZE AND DISPOSE OF RAFTS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT USED IN MARICULTURE OPERATIONS.
THE PRESENT ORDINANCE, HE SAID, WAS NOT WELL SUITED TO LARGE-SCALE CLEARANCE OPERATIONS, THE PROCEDURES IN THE ORDINANCE AND THE REGULATIONS MADE UNDER IT WERE COMPLICATED AND TIME-CONSUMING, AND DID NOT, IN GENERAL PROVIDE FOR THE IMMEDIATE DISPOSAL OF SEIZED ITEMS.
+WITH ITS LIMITED RESOURCES AND STORAGE FACILITIES GOVERNMENT WOULD THEREFORE ENCOUNTER SERIOUS PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN HAVING TO HOLD AND SAFEGUARD SEIZED ITEMS, WHILE RUNNING THE RISK OF CLAIMS FOR DAMAGE OR LOSS OF PROPERTY.
+THAT PROBLEM WILL BE PARTICULARLY ACUTE IN THE INITIAL STAGES OF IMPLEMENTING THE ORDINANCE IN THAT LARGE NUMBERS OF MARICULTURISTS ARE INVOLVED, HE SAID.
DEBATE AN THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
MORE PEOPLE HELPED BY TAVA SCHEME
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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PAID OUT MORE THAN $24 MILLION TO HELP TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS IN THE 1981/82 FISCAL YEAR.
THE YEAR SAW A 24.3 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 6 169, ACCORDING TO THE 1981/82 ANNUAL REPORT ON THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE (TAVA) FUND, WHICH WAS TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).