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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-02-19 Daily Xml
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MARINE PARKS

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:31): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation a question in relation to the marine parks advertising campaign.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: On 5 February the minister referred to this advertising campaign in this place as 'a public education program'. This education program features a young fisherman without any sun protective wear, which is inconsistent with the government's 'Slip, Slop, Slap' policy. The same picture also features on the Premier's website. My questions to the minister are:

1. Can the minister explain how the advertising of illegal—the crabbing—and unsafe activities can be classified as an education program?

2. Can the minister please explain how he intends to rectify this, and what will it cost to rectify?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:32): Mr President, who would have thought the leader of this place would come in here and talk about an advertising campaign? Mr President, I—

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

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Bring it on. Bring on more of it; I would love to talk about it even further. Sir—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: I will. Sir, the establishment of this network of 19 marine parks has been more than 10 years in the making and is a major investment in the long-term future of our environment and the prosperity of our state. The aim of the 'Enjoy life in our marine parks' education campaign is to raise awareness of our marine parks with the South Australian community.

Over 35,000 people have been involved in consultations over the past few years, but there are many more South Australians who haven't, and they need to know the information about where the marine parks are, where the boundaries for the sanctuary zones are, and what you can and cannot do in those marine parks. That is why we need a public education campaign now—to make the broader South Australian community aware of our new marine parks, why the parks are so important, and how they can use and enjoy them.

As I have previously advised, the marine parks education program will include TV, print, digital and outdoor advertising, as well as a range of educational resources, online information, and a range of community engagement activities. The education program will help people understand that they can enjoy all their favourite activities in marine parks, but that in the sanctuary areas of marine parks, which take up about 6 per cent of state waters, fishing won't be permitted from October 2014. The education program will reassure people they will still be able to fish from all jetties, boat ramps and popular beaches, even next door to sanctuary areas. We are confident people will do the right thing once they know where the sanctuary areas are and where they can fish.

There are a range of resources available to show people where they can fish, including maps, brochures, and the MyParx smartphone app, which can be downloaded from the marine parks website. In addition, a recreational fishing magazine is being developed with RecFish SA and the Sunday Mail to help people to get to know some of the best places to fish in our state.

The money will be well spent. There is a great deal of misinformation that has been spread about marine parks, particularly by those opposite today. South Australians have a right to know that their parks are theirs to visit and to enjoy. This is going to be a valuable education program aimed at informing our community—and that is what we should be doing; not misleading them, as members of the opposition are doing.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Ridgway, do you have a supplementary?

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