Question Time

MARINE PARKS

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:39): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question on marine parks.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: In response to a question in the last sitting week on this subject the minister said the following:

PIRSA has been an active participant in the whole-of-government marine parks steering committee, established by DENR to facilitate cross-agency consultation and communication on the development of marine parks.

My question is: can the minister name each of the agencies and departments that are members of the steering committee, and can she advise whether that includes tourism and/or local government?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (14:40): I thank the honourable member for her important question. As I have said in this place previously, the implementation of the marine parks is a policy issue that is very dear to my heart. In my role as former environment minister, I played a key part in helping to progress the legislation through this place and also in establishing the boundaries of the marine parks.

I have said in this place previously that the management of the marine parks comes under the purview of the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation in another place. He has direct responsibility for those parks and is responsible for managing the process and managing the public engagement component of that as well.

I have made it quite clear in this place that PIRSA has been working with DENR to assist in attempting to pursue a very pragmatic approach to zoning. I have indicated in this place before that we also seek to minimise the impact on aquaculture and also other commercial and recreational fishing interests and activities, and that we seek to do that in a way that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

Obviously, we are mindful of the jobs associated with these particular industries and the economic returns they make and, in particular, the contribution they make also to our regional communities. Often, fishing and aquaculture are the backbone of a number of regional communities. We are very mindful of that and very mindful to approach the zoning and how we manage these zones in a very pragmatic way.

I have talked about PIRSA also being active in a whole-of-government marine park steering committee, and, as I said, the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation is the minister responsible for managing that process.

In terms of the specific membership, I know that it is broad and that it does involve key stakeholders. In terms of the specific membership, I am happy to refer that to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation in another place and bring back those details.