INLAND FISHERIES SERVICE - BUSINESS PLAN

Mr FINCH (Question) - Mr President, I was somewhat surprised to be told during the budget Estimates that the Inland Fisheries Service does not have a business plan. It operates a budget of more than $2.2 million; about half of that is from licence sales. There are some new initiatives being planned by the Inland Fisheries Service yet it does not have a business plan. We were told that a plan is being developed and I ask the Leader: when will we see a business plan for the Inland Fisheries Service?

Mr AIRD - I thank the honourable member for his question. I can inform the honourable member that he is quite correct that the business plan, the corporate plan, is currently being developed by the agency. It is envisaged at this point in time that the business plan will be completed by the end of October or early November.