Marine Parks

The Hon. T.T. NGO (14:48): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Can the minister advise the chamber what progress has been made on the implementation of the marine parks program?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:49): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I can confirm that I am very pleased to be able to provide an answer and very pleased to provide information on the progress of South Australia's marine parks program. I am also very pleased to be able to recognise, here in this chamber, that this program is one of the most significant conservation initiatives ever undertaken in this state.

I am sure honourable members are aware that marine park management plans for each of South Australia's 19 marine parks were finalised in November 2012. While the plans came into effect at that time, fishing restrictions are not due—as most members will know—to come into effect until 1 October this year. This was important to ensure that industry and the community have ample time to prepare for changes out on the water.

Our state's marine parks have been carefully zoned to set aside some of the most unique areas of our coastline for conservation purposes. Most importantly, these zones have been carefully designed and based on sound and robust science. Throughout this process the government has been committed to ensuring that the best scientific research is considered and we have made it publicly available at each stage of the marine parks program.

The science supporting the benefits of marine parks is overwhelming, I am advised, perhaps a little too overwhelming for some of my colleagues opposite who have in this place and elsewhere consistently sought to refute or ignore the science behind marine parks.

The design of South Australia's marine parks program is based on the best available and extensive international, national and local marine science. The 14 design principles that provide the scientific basis for the marine parks program were developed after consideration of three decades of Australian and international marine protected areas scientific and management experience.

In addition, the government sought input from an independent scientific working group. This is a group of 12 highly respected and credible scientists. They have significant expertise in a range of scientific fields relative to the marine environment, such as marine ecology, marine biology and biological oceanography. The location of our 84 sanctuary zones are areas of high ecological importance and ensure protection for areas including:

the southern right whale breeding grounds and sea eagle nesting sites at the Bunda Cliffs in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park;

the biodiversity ‘jewels in the crown’ of South Australia's marine environment at the Isles of St Francis and Nuyts Reef in the Nuyts Archipelago Marine Park;

critical marine nursery areas in the mangroves and seagrasses in the Upper Spencer Gulf and Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Parks;

world class scuba diving at Topgallant Isles in the Investigator Marine Park;

reef fish, Australian sea lion and New Zealand fur seal hotspots in the Pearson Island group in the Investigator Marine Park;

popular diving and snorkelling sites at Chinaman’s Hat, near Innes National Park in the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park and at Noarlunga Reef in the Encounter Marine Park;

the Australian sea lion habitat at Seal Bay in the Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park; and

the ecotourist destination and world-renowned great white shark hotspot at North Neptune Island in the Neptune Islands Group (Ron and Valerie Taylor) Marine Park.

These are just some of the incredibly unique and diverse areas that lie off our coastline, and I can assure all members that this government remains firmly committed to ensuring these areas are protected. We have always been determined to get the balance right between conservation and other community needs, and that is why we have run such an extensive community engagement program.

In 2006 public consultation occurred on the Marine Parks Bill, a bill which I should point out was supported at the time by the Liberal Party. This was followed by another round of public consultation regarding the park’s outer boundaries in 2009. More than 2,000 submissions were received at that time, I am advised. Local communities were then asked to participate in the marine parks planning process through local advisory groups. These groups met between late 2009 and May 2011 and had the opportunity to directly input into the design of marine parks.

Key stakeholders, including the commercial fishing industry, were also extensively consulted over many years, in addition to a range of other bodies including the Marine Parks Council and the Scientific Working Group. In addition, we sought an independent analysis of marine park impacts.

In line with the Marine Parks Act 2007, each draft management plan that was released for public consultation was accompanied by an impact statement describing the expected environmental, economic and social impacts of that draft plan. The impact statements were released with the draft zoning so the government could receive further advice from stakeholders and the community to further minimise the impact on users.

As a result of that, the government made more than 50 amendments in finalising the marine park management plans. These changes were of course in addition to the input the government received from the community and stakeholders over many years.

The changes to the zoning proposed in the draft management plans maintained good conservation outcomes whilst reducing the impact on users of the marine environment, such as commercial and recreational fishers. For example, these changes reduced the impact on South Australia’s commercial fishing industry from 2.1 per cent to 1.67 per cent of its annual gross value of production.

There were also changes to accommodate popular recreational fishing spots, such as Black Point near Whyalla, Chinaman's Hat and Cape Elizabeth on Yorke Peninsula, Cape Forbin on Kangaroo Island, and Port Arthur and Port Wakefield at the top of Gulf St Vincent, just to name a few. The government has, at every step of the way, been committed to involving the community and key stakeholders in the design process of our parks. We have always been committed to ensuring that our parks are based on sound science. This is what sets us apart from the members opposite who refuse to acknowledge the wealth of scientific data and research that is readily and easily available.

We will continue to rely on credible science and we will continue to ensure that the community and stakeholders are informed and play a key part in our marine parks program. I can advise that work is currently underway to prepare for the commencement of fishing restrictions in sanctuary zones on 1 October. Extensive information has been provided across the state to ensure people know where sanctuary zones are located and what rules apply in these zones.

Officers from the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources continue to attend public events, such as boat shows and field days, to provide information about marine parks. CDs containing the GPS coordinates of the zones have been widely distributed and these coordinates are available on the marine parks website. In addition, the My Parx phone app for iPhones and Androids is also available to provide users with information about the locations of zones and the rules that apply. Signs at key locations around the state will be installed to help inform the public about the locations of sanctuary zones and the rules that apply.

The overwhelming feedback we have been receiving is that there is widespread support for marine parks and the locations of the sanctuary zones. The government has long held the view that marine parks will boost our fishing, tourism and recreational industries, as has been evidenced in other places around the world. In addition, we expect marine parks to generate new business opportunities and new jobs.

The government has considered the full range of scientific information, along with important information from the community and stakeholders, to ensure that healthy examples of our marine life are protected for current and future generations without undue impact on people's lifestyles and livelihoods and, unlike those opposite, we rely on expert scientific advice. They make it up. Whenever they are out in the country they talk to stakeholders and they tell them what they want to hear. They don't take on leadership. They refuse to. They go out and tell people what they want to hear. They refuse to acknowledge the great science that is behind these marine parks.

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

The PRESIDENT: The honourable minister will take his seat. The Hon. Ms Lensink, please, contain yourself.

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

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Mr President, she says, 'They started it. He started it.' That's the only comeback that they have to the science. That is the only comeback they have to the science: 'He started it.' That's all they can say. No wonder they lost at the last election.

The PRESIDENT: The honourable minister, take your seat.