Ian Campbell (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Heritage) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have mentioned the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority on at least half a dozen occasions. I think perhaps Senator Conroy should go and get a cotton bud and get his ears cleaned out. When Labor were asked what they were going to do about protection of the marine park under the auspices of the marine park authority, Mr Latham said he was going to review the boundaries—tear up the boundaries. And that remains their policy.

The coalition have a policy of protecting the reef and giving structural adjustment to those who have been affected by the massive increase in the protection of that reef to make it the most well-protected reef in the world. It is the best managed reef in the world. That is our policy. Labor’s policy is to tear up the boundaries and leave the protection of the reef—which was put in place by the Howard government—at risk. I challenge Senator McLucas to get up and say that they have now torn up the Latham policy and that they will stand by the Australian government’s boundaries. (Time expired)