On the day that ASC auditors and the Federal Government are reviewing dead zones in Macquarie harbour, the Hodgman Government’s rubber stamping, marine farm review panel has called Tasmania’s salmon regulations ‘world’s best-practice’ and approved Tassal’s expansion onto the east coast.
“The panel appointed by Minister Rockliff has rubber stamped Tassal’s expansion plans for the east coast on the very same day ASC auditors and the Federal Government are inspecting Tassal’s dead zone in Macquarie Harbour, where all marine life is dead under Tassal’s largest lease,” said Laura Kelly, Environment Tasmania.
“Minister Rockliff’s description of this process as independent is an example of his government’s failure to regulate Tassal. Panel members are appointed by the Minister and have no independent powers. The last member that opposed a Tassal expansion – Dr Lois Koehnken – was removed from the panel in 2011.”
“The Minister raises questions about how many of the 6000 submissions that opposed Tassal’s expansion were Tasmanian – but refused to hold public hearings so that local voices could be heard.”
“The panel also completely fails to mention the impacts of Tassal’s industrial development on other coastal users – like tourism businesses and the local community. How the interests of voters and one of the largest employers in Tasmania could be overlooked in a review of marine farm planning is inexplicable – particularly given the controversy surrounding Tassal’s push onto the east coast,” Ms Kelly said.
Laura Kelly Strategy Director Environment Tasmania
