Animal Welfare

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (15:02): Supplementary question: in relation to bringing the community along with him, will the minister commit to coming to the marine parks rally tomorrow morning?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:02): This stunt being organised by the Liberal Party—I've got to say, it is very attractive to me to come along and tell the facts, but of course the Liberals do not believe in facts, and they certainly do not believe in science.

As I said before in this place, when they are confronted with evidence and new information, they turn a blind eye to it. They do not want to know about science and scientific information, marine park innovation and biodiversity studies; they do not want to know about it, Mr President. I have got to say, they have people just like them who are stuck in their ways, who are not open to scientific information, and those people—

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: The Hon. Michelle Lensink might be turning out, but I can say, Mr President, if you look at—and I think I have it here today. In fact, a leaflet was put out on the steps or Parliament House just today. I think it was talking about a recent survey into—here we are:

…Majority of South Australians Support marine Sanctuaries…

QUESTION 1

Marine sanctuaries are parts set aside within marine parks to protect marine life and ecosystems. Sanctuaries don't allow fishing or mining but do allow recreational pursuits such as swimming, diving, surfing and boating. Do you think marine sanctuaries are a good idea or a bad idea?

Good idea: 75%

Seventy-five per cent percent of respondents, and of that is 66 per cent of fishers. People who fish think they are a good idea.

QUESTION 2

The South Australian Government plans to establish sanctuary areas inside the state's 19 existing marine parks. These sanctuary areas would cover up to 6 per cent of South Australia's waters. Do you support or oppose these marine sanctuaries?

Sixty-eight respondents support, and of that, 57 per cent are fishers. They support sanctuaries and marine parks. Fifty-seven per cent of fishers support sanctuaries.

QUESTION 3

Do you think covering six per cent of South Australia's waters with marine sanctuaries is about right, too much or too little?

Forty per cent said about right; 24 per cent said too little. So, where are all these people in the consultation the Hon. Michelle Lensink is supposed to have had? They certainly haven't been listened to by the Liberal Party in this state.

QUESTION 4

There is a proposal to reduce the amount of area protected in marine sanctuaries. Would you agree or disagree with reducing the area covered from 6 per cent to 4 per cent of South Australia's waters?

Twenty-nine per cent agreed with reducing the area; 57 per cent disagreed. So, all of the people in South Australia—clearly, by this poll, a large majority—-are not the ones being listened to by the Liberal Party; they are not the ones being consulted by the Liberal Party in this state. Why are we not surprised by that?