Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Hinkler for the question because it goes to one of the great tensions that arise in the policy debate—and he has hit both of them. It is an issue that can have a devastating impact on producers and a tragic impact on people. If we were talking about an exotic, invasive species then the arguments would be simple, immediate and almost entirely contained within my portfolio. But because the question largely goes to native animals the restrictions on action bring in another area of policy in terms of our native biodiversity and therefore the final approval rests not with me but in another portfolio. I simply say that I can ensure the member that on these issues my colleagues are very much aware of the views of the stakeholders that come to me through this portfolio but it would be inappropriate for me to pretend that I have policy carriage in an area where I do not.

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