Legislative Council: Wednesday, August 06, 2014

Contents

Cleland Wildlife Park

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:15): I wish to address a question to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation on the topic of Cleland Wildlife Park. Can the minister assure this council that no animals in the past two years have been euthanased at the Cleland Wildlife Park for the purposes of cost efficiencies rather than health? Can the minister assure us that the Cleland Wildlife Park is not in any way being wound down, diminished in its funding or set up to be sold off?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:16): I am at a loss to understand the basis of the question the honourable member asks me. Is there some information that she has to the contrary, or is she trying to lead me into a trap? I do not know, but this government is very proud of the Cleland Wildlife Park and the work that it does. I understand recent studies have shown that we have in fact had more visitors to Cleland Wildlife Park in the last financial year, I think it was—it might have been last calendar year; I will need to check—than they have had to Kakadu. It is a very important part of our parks program, and it is a very important part of our tourism industry as well. I do not understand the question she is asking. Why would she think that would be part of our business practice? If she has information to the contrary, I would love her to pass it up to me.