Senate debates

Tuesday, 17 November 2009

Proclamation Dated 14 May 2009 [Coral Sea Conservation Zone]

Motion for Disallowance

6:52 pm

Photo of Nick XenophonNick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | | Hansard source

by leave—In relation to the motion that has just been dealt with in terms of the Coral Sea, I can indicate that I supported the government’s position subject to a number of conditions. I note that the government will be making a formal statement sometime tomorrow in relation to this. Firstly, the government will outline the extent of consultation in relation to the current plan being considered. Secondly, in relation to general conditions Nos 3 and 4, which relate to the fact that staff must not include any person that has been convicted of an offence against the act or the regulations within five years of the date of the conviction, the government will be seeking to amend that.

The government has indicated that in relation to condition No. 21, with respect to scuba-diving conditions, it will make it clear that it does not apply to snorkelling. In relation to condition No. 19, with respect to notification of an injury or a person being seriously ill, it will make it clear that there must be reasonableness in respect of that. They are the key elements of the matters I have discussed with the government. These are matters that I understand that Senator McLucas has indicated will be the subject of a formal statement by the government to confirm the same.