Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. I am happy to explain how the NBN can help the fishing industry! But for generations Australians have understood the need to preserve precious areas on land as national parks. Our oceans contain unique marine life which needs protection too. We have an incredible opportunity to turn the tide on protection of the oceans and Australia can lead the world in marine protection. The government's network of marine reserves is the most comprehensive network of marine protected areas in the world and represents the largest addition to the conservation estate in Australia's history. This new network of marine reserves will help ensure that Australia's diverse marine environment and the life it supports will remain healthy, productive and resilient for future generations. The development of a national system of marine reserves has been underway in Australia for 20 years since the signing of the intergovernmental agreement on the environment in 1992. A national agreement to establish a national representative system of marine protected areas was reached in 1998 by Commonwealth, state and territory environmental ministers meeting under the chairmanship of the then federal environment minister, Senator Robert Hill.

Government senators: Robert Hill!

That is right—Senator Robert Hill. The south-east marine reserves network was finalised by the Howard government in 2007. The Howard government developed—

Honourable senators interjecting—