Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Recognising the unique characteristics of this, yes, near-pristine area, the conservation zone has been established to provide interim protection while a detailed assessment of the area is being undertaken. The conservation zone is not intended to stop any existing activities in that region. The conservation zone will be revoked with the establishment of the East Marine Region network of representative marine protected areas.

I make it very clear to this Senate, and to Senator Macdonald and Senator Boswell and the people that he talks to in my city of Cairns—because he cannot get any traction in his own town—that this is about making sure that the current uses of the Coral Sea are being maintained.