QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (14:20): As I indicated before—as you can see, there's a kind of flurry of activity because I'm not normally the minister who represents the environment minister—we do believe as a government that we must achieve an outcome where there are jobs there in the aquaculture salmon industry and that there are strong environmental protections.

Animal welfare is a national priority. There is a responsibility for regulating and enforcing the welfare of farmed animals. The government has taken steps here, all the way along—responsible steps, not slogans—that have guaranteed that that industry continues and it continues in an environmentally responsible way.

The PRESIDENT: Thank you Minister. Senator Bleyer, a second supplementary?