Federal Fishing Minister Senator Ian Macdonald says it would be extremely difficult to overturn the fishing closures on the Great Barrier Reef.

The Nationals' Queensland Senate hopeful Barnaby Joyce has called for a review of the role of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and the closure of one third of the park to fishing.

The Nationals did a pre-election deal with the Fishing Party to push for the review, in exchange for preferences.

Senator Macdonald says Mr Joyce is entitled to his view, but the Government backs the marine park authority's decision.

"I suspect that when Mr Joyce does get involved in policy matters in a closer way he will understand better the approaches that the Government takes to conservation and the fishing industry and understands the great support that we give to both," he said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Member for the Mackay-based seat of Dawson says the marine park authority did deals with green groups to ensure the consultation process for the closure of more than a third of the marine park to fishing was flawed.

De-Anne Kelly says the outcome of more than two years of public and industry consultation leading up to the Representative Areas Program did not take into account the impact of the closure on the wider community because the authority conspired with the World Wide Fund for Nature and other green groups.

She says while the authority's role is to protect the reef, it has overstepped its mandate.

"What we've had is a statutory body in GBRMPA that is out of control that has put, I think, no real scientific basis for the arguments they've put forward and certainly a very flawed consultation process," she said.

Last Update: Monday, October 25, 2004. 7:22am (AEST)