Sandra Kanck
Leader South Australian Democrats
Member of the Legislative Council
Wednesday 18th
February 2004
RANN GOVERNMENT DRAGGING THE
CHAIN ON MARINE PARKS
In an effort to speed up
moves to protect South Australia’s marine ecosystem the SA Democrats will today
be moving to have state parliament’s Natural Resources Committee investigate the
need for the increasing the number of marine protected areas in South
Australian waters.
“The lackadaisical
attitude of the Rann Government to the protection of marine habitats has become
a matter of great frustration within the conservation movement and impels me to
take the issue of marine protection before the Natural Resources Committee,”
says Sandra Kanck, Leader of the SA Democrats.
“The almost complete lack
of protection and total lack of action in respect of Gulf St Vincent is a prime
case in point.
“Gulf St Vincent is the
primary marine playground for the vast majority of South Australian’s and
contains more endemic species than the Great Barrier Reef.
“Yet a pitiful one percent
of Gulf St Vincent is a marine protected area, opening up the other 99 per cent
to mining and exploration activities no matter the fragility and natural worth
of the area.
“It’s time the Rann
Government began fulfilling its categorical commitment to the protection of
South Australia’s marine environment made at the last state election.
The ALP’s “20-point Green
Plan” regarding the marine environment made the commitment to:
13.Create marine parks, in consultation with all stakeholders, in recognised
areas of outstanding marine conservation value which are under threat from
coastal development and human activities.
“Aside
from the Great Australian Bight Marine Park and one trial Marine Protection Area
there has been precious little action on this unambiguous promise.”
