MARINE PARKS

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (15:49): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Now that all of the 10 councils on Eyre Peninsula have lost confidence in the government's marine parks process, will the government finally concede that its consultation has been flawed and that the proposed sanctuary zones will have a devastating effect on our state's economy? At last week's meeting of the Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association, a motion was passed unanimously by the member councils expressing their lack of confidence in the government and the department regarding the consultation process.

The SPEAKER: Before the minister stands up, member for Flinders, that was a very provocative question. In your explanation you did cover it somewhat, however. Minister, I think that you need to answer that question.

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:50): Madam Speaker, the member for Flinders is one of the outstanding people on the other side, and I was not provoked nor did I find his question provocative in any way. I understood what the outcome of the vote was going to be before it was taken, and I say that on the basis that I had met with representatives of the Local Government Association. I can see my friend smiling over there because he obviously knew the result before it was voted upon as well—that they would join together in voting that way in support—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: Madam Speaker, this is a chamber in which the noise does travel quite a lot across it. I will try to answer it, and I would ask the Leader of the Opposition not to interject so that I can answer it in a timely fashion. I knew which way they were going to vote. There is certainly some concern on the Far West Coast with respect to the proposed sanctuary zones which are undertaking a further process of consultation. Once the draft management plans are put in place, we will undertake that.

The marine parks are something that this state government is committed to, hence the very reason we brought together stakeholders to look at priority conservation areas. We expected there to be some concern expressed by some people on the West Coast, but quite simply I met with a significant number of individual councils through their Local Government Association leading up to that stakeholders' meeting that we held some time ago, together with representatives of the recreational fishing industry, the commercial fishing sector and the Marine Parks Alliance, as well as the Scientific Working Group and the conservation sector, where it was unanimously agreed that the priority zones would be put out for this further process of developing the marine parks based on those high-conservation areas.

Do we shy away from the fact that this state is committed, as the Liberal opposition was, it seems, back in 1999, I think it was—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: Yes, member for Davenport.

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: If the Leader of the Opposition—

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: —is not aware of what the comments were at that particular time with respect to marine parks and the need for higher levels of protection within what they were proposing as marine parks, well, I will send that media release over to the opposition. This state has a very, very productive future. That future—

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: —will be underpinned by robust, sustainable, commercial fisheries. It will be—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: —underpinned by the continuation of some of the best recreational fishing that will occur anywhere on this planet—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: —and it will be further enhanced by a marine park system that has sanctuary zones that will in turn enhance those activities.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Ramsay.