Giant Australian Cuttlefish

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (15:54): Supplementary: did the minister receive specific departmental or SARDI advice about whether the temporary closure was necessary for the protection of the cuttlefish?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:54): As I mentioned in my original answer, the numbers following the lapsing of the closure under the former Liberal government—in fact, I do wonder if any members at all have eaten cuttlefish under that lapse of that closure, but anyway that's another point. However, I did refer in my original answer to the numbers that had decreased by such a substantial amount to be the lowest for many years, and that is why it's important to protect this iconic species, and that's why we have reinstated this spatial closure.