Batemans Marine Park
BATEMANS MARINE PARK
Page: 20903
The Hon. ROY SMITH: I direct my question to the Minister for Industrial Relations, representing the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment. Is the Minister aware of claims by fishing businesses in Batemans Bay that during the summer holidays they experienced a major decline in sales and that they blamed the slump on the Batemans Marine Park, which was set up in 2007 and which has deterred recreational fishing because of the large number of restrictions? Will the Minister concede that marine park declarations have had an adverse impact on the Batemans Bay area? What will he do to ensure that this financial impact is not ongoing?
The Hon. JOHN ROBERTSON: I will refer the matter to the Minister and obtain an answer.