Nuyts Archipelago

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (14:52): My question is to the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water. When will the minister release the finalised management plan for the Nuyts Archipelago? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr COWDREY: The YourSAy website references that adoption of the finalised plan would occur in early 2024.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy) (14:52): Yes, I have yet to receive the finalised plan from the department, but I am expecting it shortly. I am aware that the member is likely to be asking in the context of a particular operator who had for a few years—I think starting from 2020, possibly a little earlier—an annual agreement to be able to go and take people overnight onto one of the islands and is concerned that the adoption of a management plan might prevent their continuing to do that.

They, in fact, have not taken up any recent licence to be able to do that and have been interacting with the department significantly on an alternative tourism offering to do with whale watching. In terms of the actual management plan, I have yet to receive that from the department.