Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak to the disallowance of the six Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network Management plans, noting that this is a cognate debate across all six regions. The six management plans were introduced into the House of Representatives and the Senate on 12 March 2013. Management plans are enabling documents that allow certain management of recreational and commercial activities to occur that would otherwise be restricted under the EPBC legislation. These plans are prepared by the Director of National Parks in accordance with section 368 of the EPBC Act. The management plans cover the following areas: the Coral Sea, north, north-west, south-west, temperate east and south-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves Networks.

I must correct a misleading statement made by the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities at question time today. He said that we are moving disallowance of a management plan put in place by the former Howard government in 2006. That is incorrect. By repealing this minister's management plans of 2013, what will stand is the interim management plan introduced by the Howard government in 2006. In fact, as I said, that plan was put in place in 2006. I am really concerned that this minister is not even across the detail of the marine reserves network management plans that he has put in place.

I was honoured to second the motions of disallowance on the south-east and temperate east plans. Unlike the minister, I am fully aware of what I am talking about. These are the proposed management plans, Minister, not the one that is already there. I have done this because the very reason I came into parliament was to stop bad policy and to make good policy. This management plan is bad policy. The government's handling of the whole process has been an extreme disappointment. It reflects an attitude of disdain towards the five million Australians who partake in recreational fishing in one form or another. I also reflect on the complete disgust of our commercial fishing industry in the way that they have been approached by this government. As I said, an estimated five million Australians go recreational fishing each year. The contribution by the recreational fishing sector to our economy is estimated to be $10 billion per year. That $10 billion is largely spent in rural and regional areas. There are some 90,000 Australians employed in supporting the recreational fishing industry, as well as some 3,000 fishing tackle stores across Australia. This is not a small sector of our community.

Another thing that really concerns me is this minister's continual statements that these management plans will not affect anyone because they are all too far offshore.

Mr Burke interjecting—

I am glad to hear, Minister, because I will go through a couple of select ones. In the area of Port Macquarie, where the member for Lyne is based, the Cod Grounds, which are fished by thousands of people annually, are a mere 27 kilometres offshore. The Coffs Harbour Solitary Islands are 12 kilometres offshore. From Yamba, it is 29 kilometres offshore. In Tasmania, from St Helens, in the Freycinet area, it is 60 kilometres offshore. From Bicheno, again in the Freycinet area, it is 32 kilometres offshore—

Mr Burke interjecting—

Mr Deputy Speaker, are you going to put up with this? Are you going to bring him to order?

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