MARINE PARKS

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (14:43): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Can the minister explain to the house why he has not yet met with the community of Port Wakefield to discuss his plan for restricting fishing opportunity by the introduction of a large sanctuary zone in Marine Park 14? The community of Port Wakefield and the Adelaide Plains stands to be dramatically affected by the proposed sanctuary or no-take zones but, despite repeated pleas to meet with the minister to discuss the social and economic consequences for the community, they are yet to be granted a face-to-face meeting.

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:43): It is true what the now—or the former deputy leader says: we have been consulting for a long period of time on this.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: Just by way of interest, Madam Speaker (because I know, at the very least, you are interested in this), only today, at 12.30, I met with the mayor and the CE of the Port Wakefield council on issues—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: —associated with that particular proposed sanctuary zone. I am assuming, just as it is the case with the elected representatives opposite, that His Worship and the CE are representing faithfully the views of their constituency, which I listened to. In addition to that, I promise not to raise my voice to try to speak over those interjections that are occurring on the other side. Quite simply, this is the fact. We have had our department deal with and meet with people across South Australia with respect to the proposed zoning. That has been an intrinsic part of the statutory consultation period, the eight weeks' statutory consultation period, which concludes on 22 October. I encourage others to still put in submissions before that particular time. We have been listening—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: We have been listening for a long time. We will continue to listen to those people who put forward views.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: When we talk about the environmental credentials of the opposition—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister, can you sit down again for a minute, until we have some order.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Yes, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will behave; talk about Foghorn Leghorn.

The Hon. P. CAICA: We know that the member for Norwood was elected on a platform of banning duck hunting. We know that he also wants to create a situation where, from an environmental perspective, the ability to consumptively use and extract species from a healthy environment will be limited under their proposal; if not, it will be a slow death for our marine environment.

I have met with and I continue to meet with people. The member for Goyder is a very decent bloke and was unfairly treated by the Leader of the Opposition, but not withstanding that, he is a very decent man. He represents his electorate very well, and just as I have been getting feedback from a variety of people—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: —I have been getting feedback from the outstanding member for Goyder, who admirably represents his constituents. It has been a broad consultation process. It will conclude on 22 October. This government is committed to making sure that this state accrues multiple benefits from the implementation of a marine parks system that is proposed to include around 6 per cent sanctuary zones.