There is often controversy and debate around moves to protect the environment as there is around major developments in the region. This is particularly the case when you have the Great Barrier Reef, Wet Tropics Rainforests and Cape York at your door step. I was asked how I would appease competing interests in a radio interview recently.

I don't think the resolution of these issues should be about appeasement. Resolving these issues is about ensuring we are making decisions based on good information and proper consultation and negotiation with those who have an interest. Too often arguments from competing interests are boiled down to a few hundred words for a newspaper article or television story. These stories often highlight extreme views and conflict because that is what sells papers and entertains. It doesn't necessarily represent the real situation or the views of the silent majority.

This though is where most of us get our information often clouding any discussion or debate. The announcement last week of the Conservation Zone in the Coral Sea and the placing of Cape York on a tentative list for World Heritage listing are good examples.

Prior to the Coral Sea Conservation Zone being established the PEW Environmental Foundation had released a report and been campaigning for a no take zone in the region. There was rightly a lot of anger from local fishers who would have been completely excluded from the region. The PEW proposal and angry fishers had received much media attention in the lead up to the Minister declaring the Conservation Zone, so when it was announced I know that many fishers assumed that PEW had won in their campaign to have the Coral Sea become a no-take zone.

What was announced however has not impacted on recreational or commercial fishers in the Coral Sea. PEW have not got their no- take zone and I will continue to fight any such proposal. Existing tourism operators and other commercial users of the area will have to obtain free permits to continue operating, but nobody's business is being closed down by a no-take zone as proposed by PEW.

Yes, the Government is moving forward with its bio-regional planning process including consultations on whether there needs to be increased protection in the area but no final decision has been made. I will continue working to ensure that fishing and other interests are considered in this process as I did prior to the announcement of the Conservation Zone.

World Heritage Listing of Cape York has similarly seen media reports of plans to lock up the Cape. The reality is that Cape York has been put on a tentative list for consideration for listing by Environment Ministers. Any listing would take years of assessment and consultation with Traditional Owners and other stakeholders.

Cape York Peninsula is an area the size of Victoria with towns and communities; industry including mining, agriculture and tourism; as well as national parks and indigenous protected areas. Yet when you read some reports and discussion you would think that there is a proposal to lock the whole place up in some giant national park which just isn't the case.

I support listing of appropriate areas of Cape York Peninsula. It has some wonderful environmental values and tremendous cultural history both of which deserve world recognition. Through proper consultation and negotiation with local people I believe there will be support for listing of areas. World Heritage listing of both the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics rainforests have generated thousands of jobs in tourism and other industries and billions of dollars in economic activity.

As someone who calls the Tropical North home, I am rightly proud of these icons. Sadly, it is difficult to have a rational discussion about world heritage listing in the Cape because some of the advocates in the debate have no trust in each other. This isn't a reason for government not to ensure that the broader community can be consulted on the issue and to gather more information on World Heritage listing to inform this discussion.

The Rudd Government has made it clear it will not be proceeding with world heritage listing without a proper process of assessment and consultation. As the Federal Member representing Cape York Peninsula, I will continue to work to ensure that the broader community interests are represented in this debate as in other debates.