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Coalition to set up scientific panel to review marine park boundaries Coalition to set up scientific panel to review marine park boundaries
(25 days later)
The Coalition will review the boundaries of Labor's marine parks and scrap the just-finished management plans so that the fishing industry can be given a greater say.The Coalition will review the boundaries of Labor's marine parks and scrap the just-finished management plans so that the fishing industry can be given a greater say.
Speaking at the Australian Fishing Trade show on the Gold Coast, Tony Abbott said the Coalition would set up a scientific panel to review the boundaries of the new marine parks – heralded by Labor as one of its most significant environmental achievements.Speaking at the Australian Fishing Trade show on the Gold Coast, Tony Abbott said the Coalition would set up a scientific panel to review the boundaries of the new marine parks – heralded by Labor as one of its most significant environmental achievements.
And he said the Coalition would also "suspend" the management plans for the new marine parks, which it failed to disallow in the House of Representatives in the final days of the last parliament.And he said the Coalition would also "suspend" the management plans for the new marine parks, which it failed to disallow in the House of Representatives in the final days of the last parliament.
"We do not want to lock up our oceans," Abbott said, adding the last thing the Coalition wanted to do was declare a marine protected area without "proper consultation"."We do not want to lock up our oceans," Abbott said, adding the last thing the Coalition wanted to do was declare a marine protected area without "proper consultation".
"We won't make decisions that damage the lives and livelihoods of people without talking to people first," he said."We won't make decisions that damage the lives and livelihoods of people without talking to people first," he said.
"We know that the biggest supporter of environmentally responsible fishing practices is the fishing industry – because they do not want to harm the very environment that is providing them with a living," the Coalition said in its policy statement."We know that the biggest supporter of environmentally responsible fishing practices is the fishing industry – because they do not want to harm the very environment that is providing them with a living," the Coalition said in its policy statement.
"Australians aren't just proud fishers, they are smart fishers – and they know that Labor's marine park lockouts are about managing the Greens, not managing the environment.""Australians aren't just proud fishers, they are smart fishers – and they know that Labor's marine park lockouts are about managing the Greens, not managing the environment."
The Coalition failed to kill off the management plans with a disallowance motion in the House of Representatives, but they remain before the Senate and a spokesman for the opposition leader said a new Coalition government would simply "pull" them and start a process to draft new management plans in their place.The Coalition failed to kill off the management plans with a disallowance motion in the House of Representatives, but they remain before the Senate and a spokesman for the opposition leader said a new Coalition government would simply "pull" them and start a process to draft new management plans in their place.
The new environment minister would have the power to change the legislated boundaries for the parks.The new environment minister would have the power to change the legislated boundaries for the parks.
Labor always rejected concerns by the fishing industry that it was "locking up oceans", saying less than 2% of commercial fisheries' catches would be affected by the new protected areas and recreational fishers would not be affected at all because the parks were hundreds of kilometres offshore and therefore well out of reach of a fisherman in a tinnie.Labor always rejected concerns by the fishing industry that it was "locking up oceans", saying less than 2% of commercial fisheries' catches would be affected by the new protected areas and recreational fishers would not be affected at all because the parks were hundreds of kilometres offshore and therefore well out of reach of a fisherman in a tinnie.
After a long period of consultation, Labor announced its decision to protect more than 2.3m sq km of ocean in marine parks late last year, offering $100m in compensation to the fishing industry.After a long period of consultation, Labor announced its decision to protect more than 2.3m sq km of ocean in marine parks late last year, offering $100m in compensation to the fishing industry.
Environmental groups declared a historic victory, but fishers and charter operators began a furious campaign against the move, strongly backed by some Liberal and National party MPs.Environmental groups declared a historic victory, but fishers and charter operators began a furious campaign against the move, strongly backed by some Liberal and National party MPs.
The then environment minister Tony Burke said the marine parks would protect "some incredible marine environments, including the Perth Canyon in the south-west and the stunning reefs of the Coral Sea, and this announcement cements Australia's position as a world leader on environmental protection''.The then environment minister Tony Burke said the marine parks would protect "some incredible marine environments, including the Perth Canyon in the south-west and the stunning reefs of the Coral Sea, and this announcement cements Australia's position as a world leader on environmental protection''.
Restrictions on fishing in the reserves varies from a total ban to a trawling ban, to areas where recreational catch and release are permitted.Restrictions on fishing in the reserves varies from a total ban to a trawling ban, to areas where recreational catch and release are permitted.
The Coalition's announcement ignored public opinion, according to Tim Nicol from the Conservation Council of WA, which brought together a national alliance of environment groups to lobby on the marine park issue.The Coalition's announcement ignored public opinion, according to Tim Nicol from the Conservation Council of WA, which brought together a national alliance of environment groups to lobby on the marine park issue.
"More than 60,000 Australians only last year from east to west said yes to the federal government's plan to create the world's largest network of marine parks," Nicol said. "In total more than 500,000 people have said yes to marine parks during the five years of national consultation.""More than 60,000 Australians only last year from east to west said yes to the federal government's plan to create the world's largest network of marine parks," Nicol said. "In total more than 500,000 people have said yes to marine parks during the five years of national consultation."
The Australian Greens senator Rachel Siewert said the Coalition was actively undermining the science and consultation that had gone into Australia's marine parks.The Australian Greens senator Rachel Siewert said the Coalition was actively undermining the science and consultation that had gone into Australia's marine parks.
"The Coalition are part of an industry scare campaign and are putting our fisheries and communities at risk," she said."The Coalition are part of an industry scare campaign and are putting our fisheries and communities at risk," she said.
"We all know that our fish stocks are under incredible pressure, and new threats like ocean warming due to climate change need to be faced head on.""We all know that our fish stocks are under incredible pressure, and new threats like ocean warming due to climate change need to be faced head on."
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