George Christensen (Dawson, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Is the minister aware that his marine parks proposal is opposed by the Queensland Seafood Industry Association, Marine Queensland, Sunfish Queensland, the Australian Marine Alliance, the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation, the Commonwealth Fisheries Association, the Australian Fishing Trade Association and ECOFishers Queensland? Can the minister tell the House if there is any representative organisation that has given the tick of approval to his marine parks plan other than his mates in the Australian Greens?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the best example of an endorsement that would matter to the honourable member is this one:

To ensure the future health of the Coral Sea, the Government's final plan must be strengthened: the proposed marine national park needs to protect more reefs and more of the deep waters that provide a blue highway for whales, turtles and other ocean giants.

…   …   …

This is one of the biggest public consultation responses in Australian conservation history. The enormous show of support includes school children, recreational fishers, divers and tourism businesses.

That was written and published in the Courier-Mail by Peter Lindsay. Peter Lindsay used to be, as best as I remember, a member of parliament on that side who had a good understanding of the pristine nature—

George Christensen (Dawson, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker Burke, I rise to point to relevance. I asked specifically if there were any representative organisations, not individuals—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Dawson will resume his seat. The minister is responding to the question.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If the honourable member believes the Liberal-National Party is not a representative organisation, I will concede the point!