Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

That is why the government has decided that it is in the national interest to provide that temporary exemption for the WA government from the relevant provisions of the EPBC Act, at this stage until 30 April 2014. Incidentally, that exemption is quite limited compared with the very longstanding practice in Senator Rhiannon's home state of New South Wales for the past 75 years, and in Senator Waters' home state of Queensland for the past 50 years. To protect human life, each and every year New South Wales places its nets at 51 beaches between Wollongong and Newcastle. To protect human life, each and every year the Queensland shark control program covers 84 beaches and uses a combination of mesh nets and drum line—

Opposition senators interjecting—