(1)   How many and which Aboriginal communities have sea rangers in Australia’s northern waters.

(2)   Are sea rangers members of NORFORCE and are they trained and paid as any other reservist.

(3)   What is the formal and informal relationship between the Australian Customs Service (ACS) and sea rangers.

(4)   Do sea rangers report intrusions into Australia’s northern coastal waters, if so, what feedback on the reports does the ACS provide to sea rangers.

(5)   Do sea rangers implement part of the Government’s policy on foreign fishing known as ‘catch, kiss and release’, if so, what exactly are their roles.

(6)   Do sea rangers undertake any other role that assists the ACS; if so, do they receive remuneration other than through the CDEP and if they do not, why not.

(7)   Does the ACS provide any training, equipment or funding for sea rangers; if not, why not.

(8)   Has the ACS provided sea rangers with caps and mugs and does it intend to provide sea rangers with sugar, flour and tobacco.

(1)   This is an issue for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), I am advised that my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is responding to Question on Notice 3436.

(2)   This is an issue for the Department of Defence.

(3)   Customs has an informal arrangement with Sea Ranger groups. Customs provides training to indigenous communities in the Northern Territory on what type of information Customs is interested in receiving in respect of border protection under its Community Participation Program (CPP). Customs also uses Sea Ranger groups to: facilitate introductions to key personnel in indigenous communities, act as guides to indigenous community out-stations and geographical locations in their area, participate in land and sea patrols and provide charter boats if available to assist with responses.

(4)   Yes. Sea Ranger groups regularly report unusual activity to the Customs Hotline number 1800 06 1800. Customs seeks to provide feedback to reporters that can include confirmation of report details and potential response. In some instances sea rangers are asked to monitor the activity and provide updated reports to facilitate foreign fishing vessel apprehensions.

(5)   The Government has no such policy.

(6)   Customs will pay for services if they use Sea Ranger assets or officers in patrol or response activities.

(7)   Customs has trained approximately 80 individual Sea Rangers in the past two years in the Northern Territory under the Customs CPP.

(8)   Customs has provided items such as caps and mugs, which have the Customs Hotline Logo and 1800 06 1800 number inscribed on them. There is no intent to provide sugar, flour or tobacco.