Fur Seals

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:54): Supplementary. I congratulate the minister for only taking three years to acknowledge there is a problem there. Minister, have you had any advice from any of the local Indigenous rangers or indeed the Ngarrindjeri elders on their views on this matter?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:54): I am quite aware that the local Ngarrindjeri community is concerned about some of its totem creatures that are being impacted by seals. The seals are not impacting on just the fishing industry; they are, of course, having an impact on other species, but seals are predators and will prey on many animals. However, I am happy to advise that I am also meeting with the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority tomorrow and will be discussing some of these issues.

This is, again, an indication of the hubris that is held by the Liberal opposition in this place, that they think they can have the solution to all these problems by just shooting seals. It is breathtaking in its naivety, it is breathtaking in its wilful abandonment of scientific advice, and it just does not make sense.