The Coalition will today press ahead with attempts to disallow management plans for Labor’s green-inspired network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Coalition Fisheries spokesman Senator Richard Colbeck said it was an attempt to bring a genuine consultation process to bear on the network, which was among issues that sparked angler protests at the weekend.
“Environment Minister Tony Burke rammed these management plans through with what could only sparingly be called a consultation process – more of a show and tell,” Senator Colbeck said.
“In February, we discovered that Mr Burke was disbanding the division responsible for the marine park process before the date for public submissions on the plan closed.
“The Coalition is not opposed to MPAs – we have a strong record in this regard.
“But Mr Burke has played one group off against another and defaulted to the ENGO view – a common trait for this Minister.
Senator Colbeck said Mr Burke’s near hysterical claims in his reaction to the Coalition’s lodgement of these disallowance motions were quite simply absurd.
“There is no threat to the ocean environment from these motions,” Senator Colbeck said. “Mr Burke’s lock-up mentality is a graphic example of last-century thinking
“Australia has access to a much more sophisticated toolkit than the simple lock-out strategy that this Minister seems to prefer.
“The Coalition will provide a much more balanced approach that ensures a sustainable seafood resource, access for recreational anglers and conservation of the environment.”
SENATOR THE HON RICHARD COLBECK Senator for Tasmania Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation, Industry and Science
