[lightning]

Add that this sounds like an insulation farce all over again.....LOL

Email sent

[fourdapostle]

sent but with some modifications....but basically the same

[dazzabozza]

Read Receipt received!

From: Burke, Tony (MP) [mailto:Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au]
Sent: Friday, 12 March 2010 6:16 AM
Subject: Read: Mr. Norm Halliwell to be re-instated onto OFMIG


Your message

To: Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au
Subject:

was read on 12/03/2010 6:16 AM.

[Graeme]

Read Receipt received!

Along with a read reciept, you have now joined his email list
3 emails in 2 days , none of them to do with MY interests............

Graeme

[Hood]

Remember to spread the word on other fish forums you frequent!

Pierre/Spud has posted it on his site as well as mine so if you see a forum without this information then i'm sure no one would mind you copying and pasting this post to the other forums

[karrill]

Done

[Blackcats]

FYI
Just got a reply from the office of Peter Garrett MP stating that this issue isn't part of his portflio and informing that it has been forwarded to the office of Tony Burke MP.

Harry

[mattt]

any other updates?

[karrill]

Hi just received the same response from Peter Garrett as Harry.

Graeme

[dazzabozza]

Received this via email (as have a few other people).

The way I read it is Norm hasn't been made a direct member of the group but he will be "seeked" when needed. Is half a step forward but is it enough??

Hopefully Tony's involvement will also have a decent impact - http://www.perthcichlid.com.au/forum/index...showtopic=32615



Daz

Attached File(s)

 Response_from_Department_of_Agriculture_Fisheries_and_Forestr.pdf ( 67.08K ) Number of downloads: 29

 

[Poncho]

They state that they have agreed to let the previous decision stand. So the way I read it is that nothing has changed.

All the acknowledgement of expertise and opinions sought in reference capacity is politician speak for "we will allow Norm Haliwell to have just enough input to keep members of the public, like you, off our case."

I don't think it's even half a step forward but at least two steps back. It took them over two months to prepare a generic letter telling people what they already knew so that's a fair indication of just how seriously they are considering the hobbyists point of view.

As I understand it, Tony is involved with a committee one link further up the chain than this one that will make decisions upon the findings of the working group Norm was involved with - Tony can you confirm this? He's in as good a position as any to make a positive impact.

[Fish Antics]

Tony is involved with a committee one link further up the chain than this one that will make decisions upon the findings of the working group Norm was involved with

It is correct that I have been asked to be a representative on the OFMIG technical work group which will further review the recomendations from the discussion group. The next meeting of this group is in early June and I will keep everyone up to date on what is going on.

Tony

[Fish Antics]

I would just like to point out that there actually 3 Hobbiest representatives and 3 Retail representatives on the TWG, the group is made up of:

Meeting chair(s)
Mehdi Doroudi (chair OFMIG/ PIRSA )
Bernadette Oakes (DEWHA)

Hobby sector
Tony Corr (WA)
Wayne Allen(SA)
Ron Lewis(Vic)

Industry
Glenn Briggs (Bayfish/PIAA)
Shane Willis (Aquarium Industries/PIAA)
Anthony Ramsey (Retailers)

Independent Science
Patricia Kailola
Tarmo Raadik (Vic)
Michael Hammer (Qld)

Faciltators / Rapporteurs
Alex McNee (Consulting Expert)
Josh Fredberg (SARDI Aquatic Sciences)

I will be attending a meeting in Adelaide June 1&2 with the aim of reviewing a list of species and flaging any species that are of value or interest to either hobby or industry and deferred for a more rigours scientific risk assessment which has yet to be finalised.
I will be able to give some more feedback once I return from the meeting.

Tony

[Fish Antics]

Posted on ACE forums:


This is a letter i received from Prof. Mehdi Doroudi

Chair, OFMIG



Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding the Australian National Noxious Fish List.



Unfortunately you seem to have been provided with incorrect information in regards to the intent and processes involved with listing species on the National Noxious Fish List. The process for listing species on the National Noxious Fish List involves a number of steps that are conducted by your state or territory government. These include public consultation on all species. In this regard please find attached a Communiqué which explains the role and activities of the National Ornamental Fish Management Implementation Group (OFMIG) in more detail.



A Technical Working Group has been put together by an independent consultant including a number of nominated industry and hobbyist representatives who have significant experience in the ornamental fish trade. These representatives have high level experience and knowledge and are at the forefront of the trade in Australia. The expected outcome of the Technical Working Group is to make recommendations to OFMIG regarding what additional species should be considered for addition to the National Noxious Fish List. These species will be identified as being of interest to a particular sector or of no interest. Public consultation will occur on all additional species, regardless of whether they are of interest or not, by the relevant state or territory government before final recommendations are put to the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council for addition to the National Noxious Fish List.



Mr. Halliwell would be able to have input into the OFMIG process through the NSW Ornamental Fish Reference Group.



Thank you again for your correspondence. I would like to assure you that your contact details have been registered with OFMIG to ensure further communication; however, if you have further questions regarding OFMIG please contact its Executive Officer, Heidi Alleway on 08 8226 2922.



I also recommend that you make contact with your relevant jurisdiction. The details are listed on the attached Communiqué if you have further questions regarding the National Noxious Fish List.



Yours Sincerely

Prof. Mehdi Doroudi

Chair, OFMIG




National Ornamental Fish
Management Implementation Group
Communiqué #1 - May 2010
The National Ornamental Fish Management Implementation Group (OFMIG) was established in 2007
to implement seven recommendations from a nationally endorsed report, A Strategic Approach to the
Management of Ornamental Fish in Australia. This report was developed by the Australian, State and
Territory governments, in collaboration with representatives from the ornamental fish Industry, including
the Pet Industry Association of Australia. This National Strategy was endorsed by the Natural Resource
Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC).
The seven key actions to manage the biosecurity risks associated with ornamental fish
trade in Australia are:
1 Agree on and adopt a national noxious species list across all jurisdictions.
2 Review the status of ‘grey list’ species (species requiring further scientific/technical
consideration and risk assessment).
3 Establish a Scientific/Technical Working Group to assess fish on the ‘grey list’.
4 Adopt a regulatory framework and licensing in each state and territory for fish-breeders
and ornamental fish importers within that jurisdiction.
5 Develop control mechanisms for the regulation and management of noxious fish and
rare fish already in circulation in Australia.
6 Initiate a review of aquatic plants used in the ornamental fish trade.
7 Implement a national communication strategy to raise awareness in the community and
industry about management, control and regulation.
The OFMIG is not a management body. The OFMIG is a forum where all states and territories with industry
and hobbyist representatives discuss implementation of the National Strategy. The overall objective is
consistent implementation of the recommendations in the National Strategy.
Ornamental fish keeping is a popular hobby worldwide and there is considerable international trade in live
ornamental fish, including into Australia. The inadvertent or deliberate release of ornamental fish into natural
waters poses a potential biosecurity risk.
Q. What is biosecurity?
A. Biosecurity is managing the risks and potential harm to the economy, the environment and the community,
of pests and diseases, entering, emerging, establishing or spreading in Australia.
Q. What is the ‘grey list’?
A. The ‘grey list’ is a list of species produced through the National Strategy that have been identified as
needing more information before their biosecurity risk to Australia’s environment can be adequately determined.
These species are considered to have some pest potential in Australia but require risk assessment to determine
this level; either high risk, moderate risk or low risk.
Q. Do I get to have a say on these species?
A. Yes, the community has the opportunity to comment on the grey list. This consultation occurs at selected
times once a sub-set of species has been identified as being of high risk. No species are endorsed for addition
to the National Noxious Fish List without consultation. Your relevant state or territory government department
will conduct this consultation.
Q. What is the National Noxious Fish List?
A. The National Noxious Fish List is a list of species all jurisdictions have agreed represent a high risk to the
Australian environment. The National Strategy contains the initial list of noxious species that were consulted
on as part of the development of the National Strategy. Jurisdictions have commenced implementing regulation
of these species. Species on the grey list are being assessed for addition to the National Noxious Fish List with
similar consultation to occur.
OFMIG Meeting No. 7 - 13th April 2010
The 7th meeting of the OFMIG was held in Melbourne on the 13th April 2010.
At this meeting four key items were discussed:
1 Grey List Review
1.1. The initial review of grey list species is near completion.
1.2. It was agreed that a second more detailed risk assessment is required to further assess species of interest
to industry or hobbyists. The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) has been requested
to provide a project scope detailing a possible method.
2 Technical Working Group
2.1. The OFMIG’s Technical Working Group will be reconvened in Adelaide on the 1st and 2nd June to
determine which of the species identified through the initial review of ‘grey list’ species as potentially posing
a high risk to Australia’s environment are of interest to the industry or hobbyists and which are of no interest.
2.2. Three Industry and three hobbyist representatives will be present on this Working Group.
2. 3. An expected outcome of the Technical Working Group meeting in June is to make recommendations to
OFMIG regarding what additional species should be considered for addition to the National Noxious Fish List.
These species will be identified as being of interest to a particular sector or of no interest. All species,
of interest or not, are publicly consulted before they are recommended to the NRMMC for addition to
the National Noxious Fish List.
3 Control Options Paper
3.1 A draft Control Options Paper discussing possible control options for high risk or noxious listed species
has been developed by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA). A Working Group
was established to progress the draft Control Options Paper. This group will review control options described in
the paper and consider the options with a view to describe strengths and weaknesses of potential options. This
draft paper will describe workable control options that can be further considered with industry and hobbyists in
each state and territory.
3.2 It is important to note that the Commonwealth government is not implementing control options across
Australia for management of ornamental fish. Each state and territory may implement different control options,
please check your state or territory departments website for more information.
4 Communications Strategy
4.1 A draft postcard for hobbyists has been developed. This postcard is targeted at novice hobbyists to
convey the message that ornamental fish are pets and should not be released into waterways where
they can become significant pets.
4.2 This is the first of a regular Communiqué’ for industry and commercial businesses will be developed
to provide up-to-date information on the activities of the OFMIG.
4.3 The OFMIG gave a presentation at the Australasian Aquaculture Conference in Hobart, 23-26 May 2010.
4.4 Specific communication materials are frequently developed by state and territory governments to
distribute to key stakeholders as required.