❓ Mrs. Warr questions the Premier about the refusal to release the peer review supporting the demersal fishing ban. The Premier avoids a direct answer, instead attacking the opposition's stance on fisheries management and accusing them of being anti-environment and anti-recreational fishers.

Demersal fishing ban70.Mrs Kirrilee Warrto the Premier:I have a supplementary question. If the science supports the ban, why is the minister refusing to release the peer review?

Mr Roger Cook replied:I really just ask the question: What do you stand for, member?Several members interjected.Mr Roger Cook:What on earth do you stand for? You would be happy just to let rip? Let me be really clear on this. If you were in government today, you would continue to allow the commercial fisheries to let rip, and you would do so to the detriment of recreational fishers. Is that the member's position?Several members interjected.The Speaker:Members, when you are ready.Point of orderMr Liam Staltari:The Premier should direct his comments through the Chair, not directly at the member.The Speaker:Thank you, member for Carine. Yes, I do agree with you. I will uphold that point of order. Premier, if you could make your comments through the Chair, please.Questions without notice resumedMr Roger Cook:I welcome a couple of cowards to their feet as part of this debate. I ask through you, Mr Speaker: What does the member for Geraldton actually propose she would do if she were the fisheries minister? What does she propose to do? She cannot simply oppose.Several members interjected.Mr Roger Cook:Members opposite cannot oppose every housing project but say that they stand for housing. They cannot simply oppose the protection of fish stocks and then say that they stand up for fishing. That is not how it works. The opposition is demonstrating that it is weak. Members opposite lack the character and backbone needed to stand up for our environment, and they will be found wanting. At the end of the day, they will have to look the hundreds of thousands of recreational fishers in the eye and say, "If we were in government, you wouldn't be able to fish ever again because we would have allowed the fish stocks to be reduced to nothing."Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, stop interjecting.Mr Roger Cook:It is a fish stock that is on the brink of extinction.Mr Shane Loveinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Mid-West, I am calling you for the second time.Can I just remind opposition members that you do have a private members' business motion on this matter this afternoon, and if you keep carrying on the way you are carrying on, half of you will not be here.Mr Roger Cook:I understand why they are interjecting a lot, Mr Speaker. It is because they have been caught out. They have been caught out because they are anti recreational fishers and they are anti the environment. They are not prepared to stand up for either, and they will be shown up for the frauds they are. Demersal fishing ban