BEEKEEPERS

The Hon. G.M. GUNN (Stuart) (15:04): I direct my question to the Minister for Environment and Conservation, a department dear to my heart. I ask the minister, can he—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.M. GUNN: It doesn't take much to put me off. Can the minister advise the house why the government, through its agency National Parks, is stopping apiarists (beekeepers) from releasing bees in national parks so that they can carry on with their normal practices, which they have done for years? Constituents of mine at Wirrabara have advised me that they have now been told that they are not allowed to put their beehives in the national parks. The question is: why, and what harm are they doing?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Early Childhood Development, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management) (15:04): I thank the honourable member for his question and, I must say, I am detecting a green tinge to the honourable member's questions. As he moves into the shadowlands of his career, I can see him—

The Hon. P.F. Conlon interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I must say that I do not have with me a briefing about bees in national parks. I can appreciate that—

The Hon. P.F. Conlon interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: That's right. I can appreciate that it is an important issue for the honourable member. I undertake to obtain a briefing and bring back an answer to the house.