LOWER LAKES

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide) (15:15): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Can the minister inform the house about what recent work has been undertaken—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I am sorry. Member for Port Adelaide, could you read the question again? I cannot hear you.

Dr CLOSE: Can the minister inform the house about what recent work has been undertaken to return native fish to the Lower Lakes region?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for Port Adelaide for her question and acknowledge her lifelong commitment to improving the environment for all South Australians. I am pleased to inform members about the vital work the government is supporting in the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region. As all members should be aware, it was just a few short years ago that the unprecedented drought saw flows into the lakes dry up, with many fish species coming close to extinction.

The lack of freshwater inflows resulted in important wetlands and fish habitats drying out which had a severe impact on populations of native fish throughout the region. The fish that remained were detected through monitoring as part of the Department for Water's The Living Murray program and were rescued for breeding programs with the intention of returning the fish that were bred in captivity to their natural habitat once the water returned.

I am pleased to inform members that this week about 4,000 native fish bred in captivity will be returned to their natural habitat around the Lower Lakes. Over the next few days, native species such as the Yarra pygmy perch, southern pygmy perch, Murray hardyhead and the southern purple spotted gudgeon will be released into the wetlands and waterways around the lakes. This project is a result of a very successful collaboration between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department for Water, Flinders University, Aquasave, SARDI, PIRSA, the SA Murray-Darling Basin NRM Board, the South Australian Museum and Native Fish Australia (SA).

This work has also produced a groundbreaking scientific approach to enhancing the prospects of survival for reintroduced fish populations, and in this aspect I acknowledge the work by scientists from Flinders University led by Professor Luciano Beheregaray. I am also pleased to inform members that the work previously undertaken to repopulate native fish species in the region is proving successful.

Late last year, the Premier and I helped return around 1,000 southern pygmy perch bred in captivity to habitat on Hindmarsh Island. Recent samples—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: I actually saved him. I was ready to take the dive, you know, to distract attention. But we managed it very well, and I do thank The Advertiser for using probably the worst photograph that they possibly could have used at that circumstance. Nonetheless, I saved the Premier. Recent samples taken from the area—

The Hon. J.D. Hill interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: Yes, and he saved the fish. Recent samples taken from the area have shown the fish to be in good health. This government is committed to ensuring that the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region is a healthy, productive, resilient wetland system that maintains its international, local and cultural significance. Of course, having in place a robust Murray-Darling Basin plan that is based on the best available science will go a long way towards achieving this goal. That is why the government would welcome the opposition coming on board with other South Australians to support our call for the best plan for the basin—not a second rate plan, as the shadow minister appears prepared to accept.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I think there are too many trumpeters in here today.