Minister for Indigenous Australians
The Albanese Government is fighting illegal foreign fishing operations in the Northern Territory, with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke today officially launching Operation LUNAR in Darwin.
The new taskforce involves enhanced offshore capabilities in the air, on water and along the coastline to detect and respond to the threat of illegal foreign fishing.
Following the success of Operation Leedstrum in the Kimberley, some illegal fishers have ventured further east into the Northern Territory. They are now discovering that this pathway is also blocked.
Vessels are being intercepted, more than seven tonnes of sea cucumber has been seized and boats have been destroyed.
To coincide with the official launch, the government is announcing a new helicopter to allow Border Force to respond more quickly to illegal maritime activity.
The government is also developing a new partnership with local land councils and Indigenous ranger groups to help monitor the NT's 10,000km of remote and sometimes inaccessible coastline and network of 887 islands.
A partnership like this existed until 2017 but the previous Liberal and National Government allowed it to lapse, leaving Australia's northern coast vulnerable.
Operation LUNAR is an extension of the Government's commitment to border protection which has resulted in massive losses for illegal fishers and ensured that there has not been a successful people smuggling venture to Australia in many years.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Tony Burke:
"Border protection is one of the highest priorities of the Albanese Government.
"Our Government has maintained border surveillance levels, filling gaps in delivery from the former government's contractors with the use of Defence Force assets.
"These new resources add an additional layer to that surveillance, enhancing the capabilities of Border Force personnel and Indigenous rangers.
"I want to pay tribute to the men and women who protect our borders and thank the NT government, and the local community for their ongoing support."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy:
"Indigenous rangers play a vital role in caring for land and sea Country.
"Our different ranger groups in the Northern Territory are ideally placed across vast areas, to help be the eyes and ears of northern Australia."
Member for Solomon Luke Gosling said:
"The waters off the Northern Territory are crucial to our way of life. This operation ensures that our industry and local communities are protected, supporting healthy ecosystems for Territorians and future generations.
"By disrupting illegal fishing activities, we're helping maintain the health of our waters, ensuring recreational fishers in the NT can continue enjoying our marine environments for years to come."
