Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 17 January 2024
Prime Minister Albanese must act to save the Maugean Skate
Today, activists from Bob Brown Foundation demonstrated in front of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as he visited an industrial fish farm processing plant in Margate.
The Prime Minister didn’t stop to talk to environmentalists and instead posed for photos wearing a specially made hi-vis vest embossed with ‘Albo’ and the Tassal logo.
Protestors were there to demand that the Albanese government keep their promise of no new extinctions, with the Maugean skate in Macquarie Harbour being pushed to extinction by industrial fish farms.
“Prime Minister Albanese must keep his government’s promise of no new extinctions on their watch,” said Alistair Allan, Bob Brown Foundation Antarctic and Marine Campaigner.
“The Maugean skate has been on the planet for millions of years and industrial fish farms are about to make it disappear forever.”
“With major challenges arising in the captive breeding program the Federal Government must act to protect what is left of the wild Maugean skate population. This means removing fish farms from Macquarie Harbour.”
“If Prime Minister Albanese wants a sustainable industry they need to transition fish farms out of Macquarie Harbour and Tasmania’s rivers, bays and oceans,” concluded Alistair Allan.
Media release – Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, 17 January 2024
Greens condemn PM for insensitive Tassie media stunt
The Greens have condemned Anthony Albanese for an insensitive and vacuous media stunt in lutruwita/Tasmania today.
Quotes attributable to Greens senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson:
“The ancient Maugean skate is on the brink of extinction largely due to Atlantic salmon farming in the skate’s last remaining home: Macquarie Harbour.
“Yet the PM swung into town today to stand with salmon industry representatives to announce…nothing?!
“This was an incredibly insensitive and vacuous media stunt from our PM, especially in the same week it was announced half the Maugean skates in a captive breeding program aimed to save the species from extinction have died.
“Foreign-owned Atlantic salmon companies operating in Tassie have captured our federal and state governments.
“The PM made a political decision today to show Labor’s true colours and priorities are with the salmon industry.
“Tasmanians are sick of listening to tired rhetoric around jobs and growth at the expense of our unique and precious native wildlife. There’s only so long politicians can choose to prioritise the profits of big businesses over the survival of an entire species.”
