Media release – Craig Garland, independent MHA for Braddon, 12 March 2025

Liberal and Labor lockstep threatens Tasmanian salmon industry future

Today, the Liberal-Labor lockstep was on display again, blocking progress to improve and futureproof the salmon industry, using Parliament to squash my solutions-focused approach to bring positive change and protect the future of the salmon industry.

The motion I introduced in Parliament earlier this afternoon, simply called for an independent feasibility study and cost-benefit analysis of the salmon industry to move its operations on to land. The motion was lost with 9 votes for, and 24 votes against, after Labor, Liberal united to oppose it, along with independent, David O’Byrne MP.

During the debate, we heard from Minister for Resources, Eric Abetz MP who stated he wanted to see a ‘well-regulated industry’ but refused to consider the possibility of this being on land, cherry-picking from one failure of an on-land operation despite a growing movement globally to on-land fin-fish farming.

Labor MP, Janie Finlay, in her contribution, also showed a lack of open mindedness, arguing that if the salmon farms were not in our waterways, we would lose the industry, as if the primary consideration is being competitive at the expense of our environment. Ms Finlay obviously wasn’t in her role of Shadow Minister for the Environment. If the salmon industry cannot survive without environmental destruction, then Tasmanians must evaluate if salmon farms are a part of our future.

I thank those MPs who supported my motion, members of the Greens who have been calling for action in this space for many years, as well as fellow independents, Ms Johnston, Ms Beswick and Ms Pentland. I am grateful for each member who saw the sense in having more information, something that the major parties seem allergic to when it comes to the issue of salmon farms.

Opposing this inevitable transition to on-land aquaculture only further risks the industry, and that is why I have continued the push to help transition fish farms out of our waterways.

By seeking independent information, the Government and the Parliament can play a role in supporting an industry that is facing pressure from regulatory agencies, a vehement Tasmanian community, a changing environment, and increasing boycotts towards salmon products.

Why are the major parties scared of solutions towards getting this industry to be the best managed in the world, continuing to bury their heads in the sand after each environmental disaster?

Despite multiple independent and internal ‘investigations’ into the mass salmon deaths, the Government and the faux-opposition Labor party have demonstrated that they are unfit to represent Tasmania in this space, because they are too busy representing the salmon companies.

Over the past fortnight, questions on this matter by myself and the Greens during question time has resulted in an effective silence from the responsible Government ministers, and it is beginning to feel like Tasmania is again in the middle of an industry-sponsored government cover up.

The government ministers are not across the issue, the Premier states the industry has social licence, despite former Minister for Primary Industries, Jo Palmer, in 2023 stating that they had lost the social licence. The government also continues to roll out tired old lines of supporting an industry that fails time after time. If the salmon industry has social licence, why do southern communities continue to protest?

Now the northwest community has seen the problems and will be doing what they can to stop anything salmon farm related from occurring in Bass Strait, continuing with another rally at South Burnie Beach this coming Saturday morning.

An industry at odds with the community and the environment is not one focused on sustainability or the future, and despite today’s outcome in Parliament, I will continue to work alongside my community for the protection of the Tasmanian environment.

Mr Garland’s comments during the debate can be accessed through the Parliament website: https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/house-of-assembly/chamber-proceedings/proceedings/2025/march/house-of-assembly-12-march

Please see also see the attached the motion for your reference:

Mr Garland to move—That the House:—

(1) Notes:—

(a) the recurrence of mass salmon mortality events in Tasmania; and

(b) the unprecedented scale of salmon mortalities over the months to 11 March 2025, particularly in the lower D’Entrecasteaux Channel (“the event”).

(2) Understands the event has a multi-factorial origin, including from rising ocean temperatures, an increase in nutrient levels, marine pests and bacterial disease.

(3) Recognises:—

(a) the significant community concern about the impact of the event on the marine environment and public health;

(b) the on-going community and scientific debate about the impact of salmon farming in Tasmania;

(c) the significant impact of the event on the salmon industry and its workers;

(d) the importance of primary production to the Tasmanian economy;

(e) that salmon farming is Tasmania’s largest primary production industry; and

(f) the current shift from marine to land-based fin fish farming around the world.

(4) Calls on the Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Hon Eric Abetz MP in consultation with Mr Garland MP, to commission an independent, interstate

consultant to conduct a feasibility study, to be tabled in Parliament within 6 months, on the costs, benefits and opportunities for Tasmania to transition its marine salmon farming industry to land-based aquaculture. The study will also include detailed discussion of:—

(a) the current and emerging environmental and social pressures on marine fin fish farming in Tasmania; and

(b) emerging land-based fin fish farming practices world-wide, and the applicability of these practices to Tasmania. (11 March 2025)

Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 12 March 2025

Premier Refuses to Divulge Donations from Big Salmon

Both houses of Parliament have now backed the community’s desire for greater transparency and stronger donations’ disclosure laws. Despite this, Premier Rockliff in Parliament refused to reveal whether Big Salmon has been donating to the Liberal Party.

Tasmania is in the midst of the largest salmon mortality event in our state’s history, and it’s causing an environmental and biosecurity crisis. The Government’s response has been slow, insipid and dismissive. People have a right to know whether this is because foreign-owned salmon multinationals have been stuffing the coffers of decision-makers.

The influence of salmon corporations on government policy is palpable. Why else would the Liberals continue to openly champion those companies that are causing marine harm. Why else would they ignore and demonise coastal communities desperate to protect their waterways?

We can only assume salmon corporations have donated large sums, part of the $13 million undisclosed funds to the Liberal Party in the last five years.

Declaring whether Huon Aquaculture, Tassal and Petuna have donated to the Liberal Party would give Tasmanians clarity. What do they have to hide? Is the Premier’s silence quid pro quo for donations received?

Premier Rockliff’s response to this huge marine crisis shows his lack of concern for the environment or respect for coastal communities. The new donation laws are something the Liberals have long resisted. The Greens look forward to communities shortly having full disclosure about which big corporations pull the strings of the Liberal party and its policies.

Tabatha Badger MP, Greens Member for Lyons, 11 March 2025

Premier Refuses to Halt Expansion of Polluting Salmon Industry

Today the Greens tabled an extraordinary petition of 1367 signatures on behalf of the coastal communities of southern Lyons.

The hand written petition and signatures were collected in just over a month, calling for the cancellation of expansion plans for industrial salmon farming in Storm Bay.

A huge congratulations is in order for that dedicated community, for standing up to protect their waters, the waters they’ve built their lives around.

With exponentially warming ocean temperatures and multinational companies pushing to maximise profit, the shocking mortality event we have seen this summer will repeatedly happen, even worsen, should that expansion go ahead.

Communities in the Huon and Channel are reeling from having their summer destroyed by salmon fat-fouled beaches with the full extent of the cause and effects still not transparently shared with communities.

Petitioners from the southern beaches have been watching on in horror at what’s happening further south and they have drawn a red line in the sand to stop this occurring in their bays and beaches.

In question time today Premier Rockliff avoided the opportunity to back community and hold the companies and Salmon Tasmania to account – the Liberals continue to hide information from the public while looking the other way as our waterways are being killed off.

The Greens stand with Tasmanian communities and oppose the expansion of this disastrous industry – the question now sits with Premier Rockliff, what will it take, how bad must things get for him to pay attention to Tasmanians who want an end to this destruction of our waterways?

Media release – Peter George, independent candidate for Franklin, 11 March 2025

Tasmania’s most trusted MP, Andrew Wilkie, endorses Franklin Independent

I’m very pleased to advise you that independent Federal MP for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, Tasmania’s most trusted Member of Parliament, has endorsed me as an Independent candidate for Franklin – the next door electorate.

Mr Wilkie will be available to explain his decision when he joins me on Parliament House lawns today at 10am, Tuesday, March 11.

I’m campaigning in Franklin to join Andrew in Canberra where as independent members of a growing cross-bench, we can work collaboratively to ensure integrity and transparency in Australian politics while representing our own electorates.

In Canberra, I will work for the people of Franklin from Hobart’s eastern shore to Kingborough and the Huon Valley.

Tasmanians have had enough of corrupted politics with Labor and Liberal increasingly controlled by greedy corporations and powerful lobby groups, making promises to voters they do not intend to keep. Last year’s state election showed Tasmanians are increasingly rejecting the major parties and turning to community independents.

Andrew has shown what an honest and courageous independent can achieve while becoming far and away Tasmania’s most popular MP.

If elected, I will work with other community independents and across the political divide to achieve the best results for Franklin, for Tasmania and for the nation.

Two-party dominance of politics has categorically failed Tasmania, leading to the worst health and education outcomes in the nation, destroying the dreams of young people to own their own homes, making daily life a struggle, allowing a climate crisis to grow unchecked and selling off our waterways to destructive salmon farms.