FISHERIES

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (14:28): I have a further supplementary question. Is the minister aware, then, of the other news that broke yesterday that, in the marine parks that are being discussed between the state and federal governments, we are going to allow foreign commercial vessels to come in and fish in those very waters?

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) (14:29): I am not aware of what the arrangements are for foreign fishers, but what I do—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —know is that members come into this place time and time again—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Ring up Leon Byner.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —with rumour and conjecture. We know that, time and time again, members come in here with poorly researched questions and ill-informed information. We have seen that happen in this place time and time again, as I was trying to say earlier on, instead of coming into this place and congratulating the state and federal governments for putting these initiatives in place, which not only preserve and help protect the quality of our marine environment but also are incredibly important in terms of our standing international, where 'clean and green' is very important to all of our markets.

These parks are going to be worth a lot to the credibility of our fisheries in terms of being clean and green. It is a real win-win but what do we get: snide innuendo, rumour and negativity. That is all we ever get in this place. All we see are members coming in here bagging our state and putting our state down time and time again; bagging this state and trying to undermine the confidence of consumers and businesses. It is completely irresponsible. What the Hon. Ann Bressington should be doing is getting to her feet in congratulating the state government and the federal government for these fabulous initiatives.