Question Time

Marine Parks

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:43): My questions are to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation on the subject of marine parks public information, which includes a booklet, smartphone app, and GPS coordinates.

1. Is the minister aware that people are having difficulty identifying where the sanctuary zones are because the maps in the printed booklet do not contain sufficient details of local landmarks, such as roads? For those who use a smartphone the app drains the battery life within two hours. The downloadable GPS coordinates cannot be easily used with existing onboard boat navigation systems. The downloadable maps on DEWNR's website also have limited references, such as only one marking per beach.

2. Is the minister aware that tackle shop owners are effectively doing DEWNR's job in trying to educate the public about where the zones are?

3. What assistance will the government provide to tackle shop owners who are effectively doing the government's job through educating the public?

4. What consultation did the government undertake prior to development of this set of tools?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:44): I thank the honourable member for her most important questions. The establishment of the marine parks program is one of the most significant and important conservation programs ever undertaken in our state. I am sure members will be aware that, after a decade of planning, in November 2012, the government finalised management plans for the state's 19 marine parks. South Australia's network of parks covers around 44 per cent of state waters. Each marine park is zoned to provide for both conservation and ongoing community and industry use.

South Australia's marine parks have been developed based on the best available local, national and international science. The marine parks have also been developed with the input of some of our state's most respected marine scientists. The scientific working group is comprised of 12 independent, highly regarded scientists who have expertise in a range of scientific fields, such as marine ecology, marine biology and biological oceanography.

The marine parks were developed after extensive consultation with local communities and stakeholders and they have been designed to provide protection for some of South Australia's most iconic and ecologically important areas. In designing the marine parks, of course, we took into account the need to provide information to the public. We took into account issues about who will be able to assist us in doing that, and of course we are very pleased that various industries will in fact be educating the public, as the honourable member says.

I will, however, take with a grain of salt some of the claims or opinions the member made in her opening remarks because, as we know, those members opposite are prone to making facts up on their feet to try to make something a little bit more exciting. They have a wanton disregard for the actual facts of the matter, but of course, being the responsible government that we are, we actually go and find out what the facts are, before making comments in the media or in public.

In regard to any difficulties people have in finding where the sanctuary zones are, I will certainly take on board advice from the honourable member if she can provide it to me and, if we can provide further assistance to the industry, the tackle shops and bait shops and anybody else who wants to assist the government in advising the public about marine parks, we are very happy to work with them.