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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-06-18 Daily Xml
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Marine Parks

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:29): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation on the topic of marine parks.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Last year, in response to a supplementary question, the minister made this comment: 'One of the requirements from minister Brock was that we actually scrutinise once again any potential economic impact on the three key zones of concern.' Those comments related to the marine parks regional impact statements. Minister Brock himself in the debate on the marine parks bill in September last year stated, 'If these assessments identify areas of immediate economic concern, then these will be addressed as soon as they are identified rather than waiting for the completion of the review.'

On morning radio this morning, the minister indicated that there was not any likelihood that there will be any changes to the zoning as a result of the regional impact studies. My questions for the minister are:

1. What conditions did minister Brock place on the condition that in exchange for his support he wanted these regional impact studies done?

2. Given that the clear impression from government has been that this is a continuous reporting process and any changes identified would result from some activity, can the minister report what the status of the regional impact studies has been to date?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:31): I thank the honourable member for her most important question and the opportunity to put again on the record the wonderful work the state government has done in terms of marine parks in this state. On 18 September 2014, the government committed to completing regional impact assessment statements for Port Wakefield, Ceduna and Kangaroo Island. These assessments will investigate any social or economic effects on these areas that may result from sanctuary zones which came into full effect on 1 October 2014. The assessments will be completed by 1 October 2015.

However, the honourable member is quite right. It has been made clear all along that information will be considered as it becomes available and if a significant concern is identified, the government will immediately begin work to find the best way to address it rather than waiting until the end of the assessment process. This is a very common-sense approach that the government has adopted on the recommendation of minister Brock. Minister Brock, of course, applies a very common-sense approach to his ministerial duties, and this was—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Well—

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wade.

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