PURPLE SPOTTED GUDGEON

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Will the minister update the chamber on the recovery of the native species the purple spotted gudgeon, which I note is a fish and not a bird as was speculated about a decade ago in this chamber.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Maher, will you start your question again?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Will the minister update the chamber on the recovery of the purple spotted gudgeon in the Coorong, the Lower Lakes and the Murray Mouth region?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Are we settled? The Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:04): I am very pleased that the honourable member did repeat his question, because I could not hear him initially over the anguished cries from those opposite.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: What a surprise!

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: And it comes as no surprise to me, the Hon. Mr Ridgway or anyone else in this chamber that the restoration and conservation of our unique river and wetland habitats of the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth is a major priority of the Jay Weatherill government.

I have spoken about aspects of the $187 million Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) recovery project funded as part of the $610 million federal government Murray Futures program at length before in this place—the former minister for the environment, the Hon. Paul Caica, has also done this in the other place, I understand—and today I am pleased to advise that efforts to recover native stocks in the region are continuing with today's release of 200 purple spotted gudgeon in the Lower Finniss River—and yes, the Hon. Mr Maher, they are indeed fish.

The purple spotted gudgeon is a small fish that commonly grows between six and 12 centimetres. The body is yellowish to golden brown colour overlayed with dark brown to red-and-white spots that are interspersed, I am told, with areas of iridescent bluish-purple which is more notable towards the tail. The fish is listed as critically endangered in South Australia, threatened or originally extinct in Victoria and endangered in New South Wales. In fact, the fish was believed to be extinct in the wild within South Australia from the 1970s due to the destructive prevalence of carp, but in 2004 it was rediscovered at one wetland location between Blanchetown and Wellington, I am advised.

With deteriorating conditions and low flows threatening the population of fish, however, decisive action was required and the fish were bred in captivity to ensure the survival of the species before the site where they were found completely dried out. This find was fortunate because it has enabled officers in the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources to re-establish populations of the purple spotted gudgeon. This process has also taken place with other fish including the Yarra pygmy perch, the southern pygmy perch, and one of your favourites, Mr President, the Murray hardyhead at various sites along the river.

The 200 fish being released today follows the release of another 900 purple spotted gudgeon in the past year at this site. I am pleased to advise the chamber that a number of these reintroduced fish have been caught and identified using harmless luminous dyes. I can report they are larger in size and are in good health, and this is, of course, a good indicator that the population is surviving and thriving at this site and the program is succeeding. This is fantastic news for that fish—fantastic news both for the individuals and the organisations involved in this effort and they all deserve our special thanks.

I am reminded and, in fact, I think last year when I was down visiting the Milang Old School House Community Centre, I was taken through that place and shown the turtle shed which is part of the curriculum for students at the Eastern Fleurieu School, Milang campus. If I can take a moment to share with the house some of the wonderful things that this school does:

The [turtle] shed is home to a significant number of native fish—Murray Cod, Cat Fish, Golden Perch, Flat Head, Gudgeon, Purple Spotted Gudgeon, Murray Darling Rainbow Fish, Silver Perch, Bony Bream, some of which are threatened species; as well as a Common Carp, Redfin, Mosquito Fish, and yabbies, not to mention short and long necked turtles both in the shed and the outdoor enclosure.

Through the education and support of the Milang community, DENR [then] and Murray Darling Native Fish Strategy, we have established the 'Turtle Shed', Murray Darling Basin Native Fish & Lower Lakes Environmental Awareness Programme. The shed retains the name given when the need for a shed to run the rescue programme was identified; even though the turtles no longer need our help as fresh water has removed the impact of tube worm infestation upon the turtles...see the full story below.

It goes on for another few pages but I will not belabour the chamber with any more of that. SARDI, the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin NRM Board, the South Australian Museum, Flinders University, Aquasave Consultants and Native Fish Australia have all assisted the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources in this conservation effort. I commend their efforts to this place and I look forward to learning of their future successes in the important work they are engaged in.