Labor to Liberals: Hurry up and hire a new director for the Environment Protection Authority

The state opposition has implored the government to appoint a new director of the environmental watchdog, five months after its former boss advised the Premier of his intention to retire.

Labor primary industries and water spokeswoman Janie Finlay. Picture: Richard Jupe

It is “not acceptable” that the state government still hasn’t appointed a new director to lead Tasmania’s environmental watchdog five months after the former boss notified Premier Jeremy Rockliff of his intention to retire.

The former head of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Wes Ford, advised the Premier of his plan to finish up in the role in September last year, with Environment Minister Madeleine Ogilvie announcing that recruitment for his replacement had begun in November.

Applications for the position closed on January 8 but a new director has still not commenced in the role.

Labor primary industries and water spokeswoman Janie Finlay. Picture: Richard Jupe

Mr Ford retired earlier this month.

It comes as the state’s salmon industry grapples with a mass mortality event, which saw 5500 tonnes of dead fish dumped at waste points in February.

There were no warnings against touching or coming into contact with chunks of dead fish washing up on Southern Tasmanian beaches until Tuesday last week, more than a fortnight after the watchdog first launched an investigation.

Cindy Ong is currently the acting CEO and director of the EPA.

In a statement released late Thursday, Ms Ong said the agency had recently imposed new environmental licence conditions requiring monthly reporting of the combined weight of dead fish from salmon farms.

Imaged supplied by the Bob Brown Foundation showing fish matter washed up on Bruny Island

Labor primary industries and water spokeswoman Janie Finlay said it was “not acceptable” that the government still hadn’t appointed a permanent replacement for Mr Ford.

“With the Tasmanian salmon industry under constant attack from groups like the Greens and the Bob Brown Foundation, who want to hurt workers and undermine confidence in the industry, clear communication and transparency has never been more important for maintaining public trust in the salmon industry,” she said.

“If Jeremy Rockliff and the EPA both fail to address these concerns, they will continue to inadvertently fuel the misinformation campaigns against the industry.”

Imaged supplied by the Bob Brown Foundation showing fish matter washed up on Bruny Island

A government spokeswoman said the EPA director was a “significant role” and the government wanted to ensure “we get the right person for the job”.

“We expect to make an announcement very shortly,” she said.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said on Sunday that he had “great confidence in the EPA to do their job”.

The state’s chief veterinary officer has said the salmon mortality event in the lower D’Entrecasteaux Channel was largely attributable to an endemic bacterium known as Piscirickettsia salmonis (P. salmonis).

Public health authorities have moved to reassure the community that fatty fish material washing up on beaches in Southern Tasmania was not harmful to human health.

Drone footage released by environmental campaigners last week showed Huon Aquaculture workers sealing live salmon in tubs, together with dead fish. The company says a full investigation into the incident has been launched.

Salmon Tasmania CEO Luke Martin has said the industry is “confident” it’s “past the worst” of the mortality event.

Originally published as Labor to Liberals: Hurry up and hire a new director for the Environment Protection Authority