Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water (Senator McAllister) to a question without notice I asked today relating to the maugean skate.

I started this week on Monday morning with a contribution on the maugean skate, following an editorial in a Tasmanian newspaper, The Advocate. The editor had made some comments, and I think it's fair to say I was furious when I read those comments. The editor had commented that, while he might find it unfortunate if 'that damned fish', the maugean skate, went extinct, it's not something he would lose sleep over. I've reflected on my comments on Monday morning and my fury, and something has occurred to me. To give Mr Haneveer credit, at least he spoke what he believed to be the truth. He said out loud the quiet thing that a lot of decision-makers haven't been prepared to say, which is that they really don't give a rat's arse about a species that's likely to go extinct.