Senator CORMANN (Western Australia—Minister for Finance) (14:25): I thank Senator Siewert for that question. In fact, I had been wondering how long it would take before the Greens would ask me a question about this issue. Let me just say at the outset that we support the efforts of the WA state government to protect human life and to improve public safety on Western Australian shores. That is why Minister Hunt has provided a limited and temporary exemption from the application of the EPBC Act to the WA government. There is no doubt that the increased risk of shark strikes in Western Australia is a public safety matter of national significance. There have been seven tragic deaths in just three years. Australia has a strong beach culture and the federal government agrees with the Western Australian government that public safety and the protection of human life are paramount, particularly during the height of summer. 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— Senator Siewert: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I did not ask for this information. I asked a specific question. Is this government monitoring the implementation of this program? Could the minister please, through you, Mr President, answer that question? The PRESIDENT: I do draw the minister's attention to the question. The minister has 46 seconds remaining. Senator CORMANN: 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— The PRESIDENT: Order! I remind senators on my left that interjections are disorderly, and constant interjections are totally disorderly. Senator Lines interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator CORMANN: For all the years that Senator Lines has lived in New South Wales, the Labor government in New South Wales placed nets— (Time expired) Senator SIEWERT: I will take that as a no. Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Is the WA government reporting to your department on the implementation of the catch-and-kill policy? If so, how many animals have been caught or destroyed, have died or been released? If not, why is this data not being collected? And why didn't the government require independent observers on the boats that are applying this policy?