Liberal Senator Eric Abetz slams Denison MP Andrew Wilkie’s social media stand on salmon

UPDATED: TASMANIA’S Primary Industries Minister has assured consumers locally farmed salmon is a “premium and safe” product, as the political fallout from an industry expose continues.

TASMANIA’S Primary Industries Minister has assured consumers locally farmed salmon is a “premium and safe” product, as the political fallout from an industry expose continues.

A documentary by the ABC’s Four Corners program on Monday night aired growing concerns about the environmental impact of fish farms, and detailed the process involved in artificially colouring Tasmanian farmed salmon.

In response to the program, independent Denison MP Andrew Wilkie posted on his Facebook and Twitter pages that some in the salmon industry were “dodgy”

“The ABC TV Four Corners show tonight was really frightening. I’m in no doubt that some people and organisations in the Tasmanian salmon industry are really dodgy. For my part I’ll not eat it anymore but I will support a boycott,” he posted on Facebook and Twitter.

Liberal Senator Eric Abetz has labelled Mr Wilkie a “green extremist” over his comments regarding Tasmanian fish farming.

Senator Abetz said Mr Wilkie was threatening Tasmanian jobs through his comments.

He said 5200 Tasmanians were employed in the salmon industry,

“This is just the latest example of Andrew Wilkie showing his true colours as a green-extremist,” Senator Abetz said.

“Mr Wilkie’s irresponsible and irrational statement could jeopardise more than 5200 Tasmanian jobs right around the state.

“Our salmon industry is one of the best in the world and the State Liberal Government has done a great job at making it even better.”

Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said Tasmanian salmon remained a premium and highly sought-after product that was produced in line with Australian food standards.

“We are growing a high-quality, premium and safe product,” he said.

“The growth in the industry has been largely consumer driven.”

MORE: POLLIES BACK FISH FARMERS

Denison MHR Andrew Wilkie.

Liberal Senator Eric Abetz.

Originally published as Liberal Senator Eric Abetz slams Denison MP Andrew Wilkie’s social media stand on salmon