Joint
Media release - 3 February 2009 - The eastern
Australian population of gemfish (eastern
gemfish) and school shark have been placed
in the conservation dependent category on
the national threatened species list.
Environment Minister
Peter Garrett and Minister for Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke today
announced the inclusion of the two species
on the list at the recommendation of the
Threatened Species Scientific Committee.
The listing will not
prohibit the fish from being caught in low
levels as by-catch, but fishing must be
conducted in accordance with the management
plans developed by the Australian Fisheries
Management Authority (AFMA).
AFMA has developed comprehensive
strategies to rebuild stocks, in-line with
the Commonwealth Harvest Strategy Policy.
Mr Garrett said the
two species were eligible for the category
as they had undergone severe population
declines in the past but were currently
subject to robust fisheries management measures
designed to rebuild their stocks.
"The eastern gemfish
and the school shark have both previously
suffered severe declines in their populations.
The committee has evaluated the current
fisheries management strategies for these
species and found they are sufficient to
prevent further decline of the species and
support their recovery," Mr Garrett
said.
"While it's encouraging
that the management measures in recent years
have helped to stop their decline, with
populations still very low, their inclusion
on the list is warranted.
"I would like to
acknowledge the cooperation of the fishing
industry in the development of the management
plans and look forward to its ongoing support."
Neither eastern gemfish
nor school shark are targeted by commercial
fishers but they are taken incidentally
while fishing for other species.
Mr Burke said that the
listing of these species showed that the
Government was serious about fisheries sustainability.
"The Rudd Government
will continue to work with the fishing industry
to ensure that families can enjoy fresh,
locally caught fish," Mr Burke said.
"Commercial fishers
around Australia recognise the need to maintain
fish stocks and have adopted new technology
to help reduce unwanted by-catch.
"Fishers have implemented
a number of measures over the years to reduce
incidental catch and it is pleasing to note
that initial evidence suggests the eastern
gemfish is recovering under existing management
arrangements.
"Importantly the
public can still buy gemfish and school
shark from the fish markets or fish shop,
particularly since western stocks of gemfish
are not considered to be under threat."
+ More
Energy Efficient Homes
- Ceiling Insulation in 2.7 Million Homes
03 February 2009 - To
support jobs and set Australia up for a
low carbon future the Rudd Government will
install free ceiling insulation in around
2.7 million Australian homes.
This investment will
support the jobs of tradespeople and workers
employed in the manufacturing, distribution
and installation of ceiling insulation during
a severe global recession.
In addition, under the
Energy Efficient Homes investment the Solar
Hot Water Rebate will be increased from
$1000 to $1600 from today and the Low Emissions
Plan for Renters rebate will increase from
$500 to $1000.
The Energy Efficient
Homes investment will:
Install ceiling insulation
in around 2.7 million Australian homes;
Cut around $200 per year off the energy
bills for households benefiting from these
ceiling insulation programs;
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around
49.4 million tonnes by 2020, the equivalent
of taking more than 1 million cars off the
road.
Energy Efficient Homes is a key element
of the Government’s $42 billion Nation Building
and Jobs Plan to support up to 90,000 Australian
jobs over the next two years.
2.7 million Energy Efficient
Homes
Insulation is typically
the most cost effective way to improve a
home’s energy efficiency. Although all newly-built
homes must be insulated, many older homes
– up to 40 per cent of Australia’s housing
stock – remain uninsulated.
This results in many
householders paying much more than they
need to in energy bills.
Once installed, households
could save around $200 per year on their
energy bills, as well as improve the comfort
and value of their homes.
The Energy Efficient
Homes package will modernise Australia’s
homes, it will enable almost all Australian
homes to be operating at a minimum two star
energy rating by 2011.
For a time-limited period
of two and a half years, from 1 July 2009,
owner-occupiers without ceiling insulation
will be eligible for free product and installation
(capped at $1,600) simply by making a phone
call.
As an interim arrangement,
from today and until 30 June 2009, eligible
owner-occupiers who install ceiling insulation
in their homes will be able to seek reimbursement
(up to $1,600) after the program commences.
The Government estimates 2.2 million owner-occupied
home will benefit from this program.
Many of Australia’s
most vulnerable households are renters,
who do not own their own home. To help these
households lower their emissions and save
money on energy bills, the Government will
also double the rebate available under the
Low Emissions Plan for Renters for landlords
to install insulation in their rental properties
– from $500 to up to $1,000 – from today
until 30 June 2011. The Government estimates
500,000 rented homes will benefit from this
program.
The Energy Efficient
Homes investment also increases the Government’s
Solar Hot Water Rebate from $1,000 to $1,600
from today until 30 June 2012. This rebate
will not be means-tested.
Under this Energy Efficient
Homes package, homeowners will be able to
access either the insulation program or
the solar hot water rebate.
These investments will
ensure that the maximum number of Australians
– both homeowners and renters – will have
access to practical measures that help them
to reduce their energy use and save on energy
bills prior to the introduction of the Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme.
As well as supporting
jobs during a severe global recession the
Energy Efficient Homes investment delivers
on the Government’s commitments in the Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme White Paper to
ensure all households receive support to
take practical action to reduce energy use
and save on energy bills.
