Giant Crab Harvest

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:27): Final supplementary: will the minister consult with stakeholders in the southern and northern zones on the take reduction and the significant damage to their business their reductions will cause?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Point of order: I believe the minister says she will be happy to take on board any questions of detail that the honourable Leader of the Opposition might provide, not wideranging questions about procedures but issues of detail about the declarations.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I am trying to listen to the point of order. The Hon. Mr Hunter, I am not going to rule in favour of your point of order because the minister did say that she is prepared to listen to questions. How she chooses to answer any question is her prerogative. Can you please repeat your final—

An honourable member interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Can you please repeat your final supplementary question and then the minister can answer it in a way that she thinks is appropriate, and then we will move on.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: Will the minister consult with stakeholders in the southern and northern zones on the take reduction and the significant damage to their businesses this reduction will cause?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, answer, please, and we move on.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:29): I am glad the members opposite actually do want to hear the answer. It appeared the opposite for several minutes there.

Before a decision is made around such things as changes to the total allowable commercial catch in any zone for any particular species, there is consultation undertaken and discussions undertaken. That happens on every case where such a decision is being contemplated.

I recall specifically within the briefing that was referred to in the original question some details around the feedback and the diversity of opinion about it, so the short answer to the question is consultation has occurred.