Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Colbeck for bringing up the definitional difference. As the minister here tonight, I ask him to explain to the Senate the difference between a marine protected area and a marine national park. I think it is very important that we get that from the government, which has introduced the legislation, so there can be no room for doubt. In relation to the proposed marine protected area of St Helens, which he has referred to, what is the delimitation on fishing that will apply to this protected area? What is the delimitation on offshore petroleum exploration, the matter in hand tonight, that will apply to that area?

The minister, in response to Senator Milne, spoke about the 450 kilometre gap between the seismic testing in Bass Strait and the whale strandings off the east coast of Tasmania. Could the minister please tell the committee how far a whale can move in 24 hours? Could he also tell the committee what the government’s knowledge is on how far sonar testing can be picked up across the span of ocean to which it is exposed? It would help us to work out the potential impact on the cetaceans that Senator Milne talked about if the minister could give us the government’s knowledge on these important matters which are, of course, central to this amendment.