Macquarie Harbour salmon laws in caught in limbo not operating as promised: Liberals claim

New rules intended to protect the salmon industry in Macquarie Harbour don’t seem to be operating as promised, the federal opposition says. And why former PM Tony Abbott was in town.

Liberal Senator Jonno Duniam speaks to the media on the Hobart waterfront on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

New rules intended to protect the salmon industry in Macquarie Harbour don’t seem to be operating as promised, the federal opposition says.

The comments came after reports the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water was still considering the status of the industry under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Environmental groups asked for the permits governing aquacultures in Macquarie Harbour to be reassessed because of potential risks posed to the endangered Maugean skate.

The department’s website shows assessment of the matter remains “active” and a final decision is “pending” — despite laws being rushed through during the last sitting week to head it off.

Maugean skate in the wild. Picture: Neville Barrett/IMAS

Liberal Senator Jonno Duniam said it was inexplicable that laws passed by parliament to protect the industry were not in force.

“It’s clear today that Labor, in an effort to come up with a short term political fix to shore up votes in Braddon, conned and betrayed the people of Tasmania by telling us that the legislation they brought to pass through parliament in the final sitting week of this term would kill off the uncertainty for the salmon industry,” he said.

“Documents from the Department of Environment reveal — and the statements from those bureaucrats themselves reveal — that the minister hasn’t yet made a decision, and the process remains on foot.

“So far from clarifying things, providing certainty that was promised to salmon workers by Labor, that we the opposition were told would be the outcome of passing this legislation,

the minister still can as it stands today even though these laws have passed … can still shut down salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.”

Labor Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins said the laws were only passed just before the election was called and caretaker conventions came into effect.

She said the government would always act according to the law.

“We’ve always been very clear that we support strong environmental protections and we support the salmon industry right across Tasmania, particularly in those rural and regional towns where this industry is operating,” she said.

“We’ve been very clear about that. We’ve also been very clear that we took advice around the legislation and will be adhering to the law.”

She said there was no danger to the industry after the election.

Liberals Richard Colbeck, Mal Hingston, Tony Abbott and Sussan Ley on the campaign trail in Tasmania on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott appeared on the campaign trail in North-West Tasmania on Wednesday in support of local Liberal candidate Mal Hingston.

“I’m very pleased to be here. I just want to see you, Mal in the parliament and I hope to God that Australians don’t reward a really bad government on Saturday night,” he said.

Mr Abbott famously took a bite out of a raw onion during a campaign visit to Tasmania a decade ago last month.

He said a repeat performance wasn’t on the cards for political tragics who remember the incident.

Tony Abbott eating an onion during a visit to Charlton Farm Produce at Moriarty.

“They probably would like to see me as a budgie smugglers as well,” Mr Abbott said.

“But that’s something which has entered Australian political folklore and my understanding is that the onion into question has been preserved and is alive and well.”

Originally published as Macquarie Harbour salmon laws in caught in limbo not operating as promised: Liberals claim