Media release – Peter George, independent candidate for Franklin, 4 April 2025
Change at the top of Salmon Tasmania = No change
A change at the top of industry lobby, Salmon Tasmania, will not restore its credibility.
Outgoing lobbyist, Luke Martin as utterly failed to turn around the reputation of a failing industry that has left Australian consumers in disgust.
It’s no surprise that his resignation comes in the middle of the industry’s biggest crisis yet as salmon fat and the carcasses of diseased fish wash up on Tasmanian beaches.
“As disease spreads through salmon pens across south east Tasmania, Mr Martin’s only role has been to help the industry cover up its litany of failures, downplaying the disease sweeping through pens with millions of dead fish as ‘business as usual’,” says Peter George, founding President of Neighbours of Fish Farming and independent candidate for the Federal seat of Franklin.
“This industry’s social licence has been shot to pieces and bringing in yet another highly paid lobbyist will not change that one jot.
“Long ago, the industry’s failure was in failing to take local communities’ and Tasmanians’ sentiments into account – our love of waterways and our pride in nature’s gifts.
“It’s too late now – the industry has grown like Frankenstein’s monster, producing deformed, diseased fish and destroying waterways and marine life with faeces, chemicals and antibiotics.”
“Bringing in Dr John Whittington, a former secretary of the Department of Primary Industry, Parks, Water and Environment will give no one confidence in any change in the industry.
“With him at the helm, the Department allowed this damaging industry to expand and pollute our waterways in the first place.
“Expect no change to the obfuscation, cover-ups and dissembling for which this foreign-owned industry is notorious.”
Media release – Neighbours of Fish Farming, 4 April 2025
From one sinking ship to another?
John Whittington, the newly-appointed CEO of Salmon Tasmania, will fail just as Luke Martin failed, just as Sue Grau and Julian Amos failed, because you cannot defend the indefensible.
The beleaguered and desperate salmon industry, having completely lost any social licence, has handed a poisoned chalice to John Whittington as the new head of Salmon Tasmania. After weeks of millions of dying salmon, out of control disease, and a rightly-angry public at the spin from Luke Martin, the industry is attempting a face-lift. It’s an attempt that is sure to fail. Tasmanians have seen through the mask of Salmon Tasmania; they are tired of not being listened to with regard to our precious waterways and marine life.
Tons of anti-biotics in our waters, diseased and dead fish piling up on beaches and in tips is not alright. It’s no wonder that Luke Martin has resigned amidst so much catastrophe.
“The thousands turning up to rallies in recent weeks, with no sign of abatement, is testament to the determination of communities right round this island. No appointment of yet another over-paid CEO will change the fact that this industry has no social licence,” says Lisa Litjens, Acting President of NOFF. ‘Warming waters will ensure the death of this industry with its overstocked pens and unacceptable practices. We can do so much better—by our workers and our precious environment.”
