Media release – Environment Tasmania, 24 March 2025
Polling: Across all Federal electorates, Tasmanians prioritise saving the Maugean skate over salmon
According to new polling, the majority (65%) of Tasmanians support reducing salmon farming to the level necessary to protect the endangered Maugean skate. Support is across all federal electorates, including swing seats Braddon (60%); Bass (60%); Lyons (58%).
The fate of the Maugean skate has become a political football in recent months. This week the Albanese Government is expected to introduce an EPBC Amendment Bill to parliament that, based on a promise made by Prime Minister Albanese to the salmon industry, will allow salmon farming to remain in Macquarie Harbour despite a review underway by the Environment Minister and scientific advice that states farms are ‘catastrophic’ to the skate’s survival.
“Clearly ,Tasmanians want to protect this Gondwana-era animal from extinction even if it means reducing salmon in Macquarie Harbour. The Federal Government’s intention to save the salmon industry, and not the skate, does not make any sense or align with what Tasmanians want,” said Matt Testoni, Environment Tasmania Campaigner.
Further, only 30% of Tasmanians support introducing special laws that exempt salmon farming companies from the same approval processes as other industries. In all five electorates, opposition (i.e., those that oppose (46%) giving special laws to the salmon industry) has double digits lead over support.
“This is a strong baseline of opposition particularly given the Tasmanian electorate is yet to even know what this special legislation will entail,” said Testoni.
The polling also found that 59% of Tasmanians are concerned about salmon farming either environmentally and/or for health reasons; and that 74% are aware of salmon farming as an issue.
YouGov conducted polling of 1068 Tasmanians online between 14 March 14 and 21 March 2025 and was weighted to a politically representative sample of all Tasmanians aged 18 or over.
Thinker
April 17, 2025 at 12:06
Michelle, the politicians of Australian’s two major governments, state and Federal, kowtow* tremulously to Big Business here and overseas because they either agree with them (as conscienceless, nation betraying Liberals nearly always do) or they fear vicious personal retaliation which might underhandedly terminate their positions of privilege, and of course their income too, in Parliament.
So they yield, and pretend to see no evil or hear any .. nor do they dare wise up their constituents about the evils they have cowardly approved. They just put more gas into their bullshit machines and lie, lie, lie – the instant recourse for those trying to distance themselves from the truth.
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*kowtow is the act of deep respect shown by prostration, that is, kneeling and bowing so low as to have one’s head touching the ground.
Genuflect is similar.
— www