Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier, Minister for State Development, Trade and the Antarctic, Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Member for Braddon, 11 March 2024

Prime Minister: It’s Time To End Salmon Uncertainty

When the PM comes to Tasmania tomorrow for Labor’s campaign launch he must provide certainty for the thousands of workers who rely on salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.

He must call time on the push by his Environment Minister to shut down the industry.

It is simply unacceptable that the future of 400 direct workers, their families, and the wider community remains in limbo.

Workers are right to wonder if Labor is waiting until after the state election to make a call on salmon licenses in Macquarie Harbour.

Workers need to know now.

Their families need to know now.

The west coast needs to know now.

Jacqui Lambie has already shown her hand telling voters she believes there is ‘clearly a problem with salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour’.

I reiterate the call I made to the Prime Minister four weeks ago:

There is no need for Minister Plibersek to take a day longer to provide certainty on the future of the salmon industry in Macquarie Harbour.

Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 10 March 2024

Greens Release Plan to Save the Skate and Support Workers

The Tasmanian Greens are proud to launch our plan to help save the Maugean skate and support the Strahan community transition away from unsustainable fish farm operations in Macquarie Harbour.

Maugean skate has lived since the time of the dinosaurs. It is a remarkable creature we should celebrate and protect, but instead it has been pushed to the brink of extinction by massive industrial fish farming operations polluting its only habitat – Macquarie Harbour.

The science and expert advice is clear – if the Maugean skate is to have any chance of surviving, fish farms must be immediately removed from Macquarie Harbour. We recognise the impact on workers and the Strahan community this would have if the move was not accompanied with proper leadership, planning, and support from the government.

The Greens recognise the importance of supporting the west coast community and the workers that would be directly affected by removing these fish farms.

The multi-billion dollar international corporations that run Tasmania’s salmon industry don’t care about their workers’ futures, so we’re fighting to make sure the government steps in to protect their livelihoods.

Our plan guarantees all 60 local workers in the fish farm industry will have a job going forward – on the west coast, and at the same or better rate of pay than they’re receiving now. We’re putting forward a range of options for these jobs so each person can find something that suits them and their skills.

Jobs on offer under our plan would include:

  • Staff to work in a newly created West Coast Public Works Division
  • Ongoing funding for extra permanent full-time positions with the West Coast Council
  • Field officers and rangers for the Parks and Wildlife Service
  • Staff to work for the Department of NRE in field activities for marine and river science

On top of the guaranteed public jobs on offer, we would also establish a Direct Wage Assistance Program. This will see the government provide $30,000 per year for four years for each former fish farm worker that is privately employed on the West Coast, providing even more flexibility for workers to choose a career path, and give a boost to local businesses.

For people who want a different path again, we’ll provide financial assistance to workers to support them in undertaking apprenticeships, training, or university education to gain new qualifications and skills. This support would be given at a rate of $42,000 per year for three years – or twice the maximum rate of Austudy.

To make sure workers and their families make it smoothly through this period, we’ll push to establish a dedicated Transition Team within the Department of Premier and Cabinet. This team will keep in touch with workers and provide any other guidance and support they need – whether that’s talking through the various opportunities available, career counselling, education resources, or just making sure they’re doing OK.

We know the big corporations running the fish farms in Macquarie Harbour don’t care about what happens to the skate, the marine waters, or the workers in Strahan. They’re focused on maximum profits today above everything else.

The government and salmon farming industry refuse to admit that as well as being devastating in itself, the extinction of the Maugean skate would also be terrible for local jobs and the economy. How many people would want to keep eating Tasmanian salmon if they knew it had sent an ancient species to extinction? What would this do to the Tasmanian brand and the jobs it supports?

This is the reality of the situation, and it’s why there needs to be a plan to help save the skate and provide a positive future for workers and for the west coast. That’s exactly what our plan would do.

We hope Liberal and Labor politicians will get on board.

The Greens full plan is available to read here. 

Support for West Coast Workers Crucial Part of Plan Save the Skate

Quotes attributable to Greens candidate for Braddon, Dr Darren Briggs:

“I’m really proud of the plan the Greens have released today to help save the Maugean skate and to support workers with ongoing, secure jobs on the west coast.

“While there’s no doubt the fish farm industry plays a significant role in the west coast economy, we also know the industry is pushing an ancient species towards extinction. If that were to happen, it would be devastating not just for the environment – it would have a massive impact on the global reputation of not just the salmon industry, but the Tasmanian brand.

“We need a solution to this problem that gives the Maugean skate the best chance of survival – and that means removing fish farms from Macquarie Harbour. But it’s also crucial we make sure workers and the west coast community are supported.

“As someone who has spent a lot of time on the west coast, I understand how important every single job is for our communities. That’s why the Greens have developed a plan that would guarantee a new job for every single local fish farm worker that is impacted by the removal of pens from Macquarie Harbour.

“Our plan makes sure affected workers will have ongoing, secure employment on the west coast, and provides flexibility to pursue a range of career and training pathways. Not only that, it will deliver a range of benefits to the community by supporting work in areas of critical need.

“I’m committed to standing up for regional communities, and I’m proud the Greens have a plan that will shape a better and more sustainable future for Strahan and the west coast.”

Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 10 March 2024

Prime Minister must provide certainty for endangered Maugean skate.

Premier Rockliff’s comments today that the Prime Minister must “call time” on the Federal Environment minister doing the bare minimum of her requirement under the law in regard to industrial salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour is preposterous.

“Much like their recent lead balloon announcement of opening up more native forests for logging, the Premier is once again happy to take a incredibly serious issue, like the extinction of an entire species, and turn it into a political game,” said Alistair Allan, Antarctic and Marine campaigner at the Bob Brown Foundation.

“It is simply unacceptable to allow an animal that has been on this Earth for thousands of years, to be wiped out forever. The only thing that needs time called on is industrial salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour,” said Alistair Allan.

“The prime minister must make it clear to the Tasmanian public and Australia as a whole that his government sticks to their word. They promised no new extinctions on their watch. Now its time to keep that promise. The fate of an entire species is relying on Federal Labor and the Prime Minister to do the right thing,” said Alistair Allan.

“There is no hope to be found in Premier Rockliff and the Liberals or Tasmanian Labor regarding the environment and saving endangered species from extinction. Both have made it perfectly clear that they will sacrifice rare and endangered animals, our public waters, and the opinion of the Tasmanian public on the altar of profit making for their corporate mates.”

“Tomorrow, we will demonstrate in Hobart’s waterfront calling for fish farms out of Tasmania’s waterways. Our flotilla will highlight community concerns for rescuing Tasmania’s unique wildlife and waterways from toxic salmon,” said Alistair Allan.

Media release – Animal Justice Pary, 11 March 2024

SALMON FARMING SCOURGE

Salmon farming is a scourge on the waterways and coast of Tasmania. It has dire consequences for marine life, large and small – from seals to seadragons.

“Even though we have a species at risk of extinction, the Maugean skate, that is not enough to get Liberal nor Labor to ban salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour,” said Casey Davies, Animal Justice Party candidate for Clark. “Salmon farming has put our state on a sad trajectory, with greed put before the marine environment and the many creatures that call it home,”

The Animal Justice Party also considers the salmon themselves, and how they are fed.

Reacting to the call to bring salmon farming on land, Casey Davies said, “Bringing salmon farming on land will not solve all of the problems in this industry. Salmon are a sentient species that are packed into pens in their thousands, unable to engage in natural behaviours, fed antibiotics, wild caught fish meal and soy from Brazil. These problems won’t end if the industry moves onto dry land.”

The Animal Justice Party wants to see a transition to more environmentally friendly and ethical industries and encourages plant-based aquaculture industries, and research into cell-culture aquaculture.

“There are opportunities here for Tasmania to lead the way with new, ethical industries that won’t damage the marine environment,” said Casey. “In the meantime I call on the minor parties and independent candidates to commit to stronger measures to protect our marine environment, including removing salmon farming from Macquarie Harbour and bringing the Maugean skate back from the brink of extinction.”

Our Aquaculture Policy: https://www.animaljusticeparty.org/aquaculture