Question Time

GREAT AUSTRALIAN BIGHT MARINE PARK WHALE SANCTUARY

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:28): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question regarding air space on South Australia's West Coast.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Next month, southern right whales will begin to gather at the Head of Bight on the Nullarbor to give birth. It is a spectacular sight—between 80 and 100 whales just off the ochre red cliffs as they breach, relax and nurse their young. The mothers are 15 metres long and can weigh almost 50 tonnes. From the Nullarbor Roadhouse, Chinta Air offers a 30-minute scenic flight over the Head of Bight marine park to view whales and fly along the Bunda Cliffs. The flights take off from the Nullarbor Roadhouse and they land at the Nullarbor Roadhouse. They fly—as planes often do—through the air. They do not fly through the marine park, it being water and the planes not being submarines.

Nevertheless, Chinta Air is required to pay a fee to the government, a tax to pass through the air if it takes tourists to view the whales. It is a government imposed fee to fly over a park in, as I say, the sky. My question to the minister is: does the minister think this tax helps regional development in South Australia and, if so, is the government planning fees and charges to pass through air in other parts of the state to spread Labor's newly discovered stimulus to economic prosperity?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:30): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I believe that, if it is to do with national parks, it would be a fee pertaining to the minister responsible for the environment, water and natural resources. I am happy to refer the question to the appropriate minister. If it is not that minister, I will make sure that it is referred to the appropriate minister.