Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Hansard source

DEH can effectively veto a proposed area, and this has happened in the past. I did not claim that the environment movements were consulted on the bill. I laid down that they were consulted on the regulations. The reason they were consulted on the regulations is that that is where issues relating to the environment are raised. In relation to whales, as we have discussed before, protocols are in place to deal with cetaceans. Guidelines have been developed and are being reviewed in relation to dealing with that. I understand, from the comments that you made the other night, that you are not satisfied with where they are at at the moment, but a process is going on and, as I said the other evening, there will be a meeting again in the next couple of weeks. I think that essentially deals with those three particular issues.