Liberal senators Eric Abetz and Jonathon Duniam take aim at Andrew Wilkie on fish

TASMANIAN  Liberal senators Eric Abetz and Jonathon Duniam have labelled independent Denison MP Andrew Wilkie “delusional” for suggest the state’s salmon industry is anything but clean and green.

Liberal Tasmanian senator Eric Abetz labelled independent Denison MP Andrew Wilkie “delusional” for suggesting the state’s salmon industry is not clean and green. Picture: AAP IMAGE/MICK TSIKAS

TASMANIAN  Liberal senators Eric Abetz and Jonathon Duniam have labelled independent Denison MP Andrew Wilkie “delusional” for suggesting the state’s salmon industry is anything but clean and green.

In a speech to federal parliament on Tuesday night, Mr Wilkie said Tasmania was in danger of making the same mistakes with the salmon industry as it did with forestry.

But in a joint statement, the senators said the comments undermined 5000 Tasmanian jobs.

“The Tasmanian salmon industry is the cleanest, greenest and most sustainable in the world — something which we should be celebrating, not calling for its downfall with a boycott,” they said.

Labor Senator Carol Brown yesterday denied comments attributed to her by Mr Wilkie.

“Andrew Wilkie has wrongly accused me of suggesting his boycott will single-handedly destroy the salmon industry.

“I have never said any such thing. It is simply his attempt to verbal me and get a headline.”

She said Mr Wilkie should engage with the sector and work to ensure appropriate regulatory oversight.

The Senate passed a motion from Senator Duniam co-sponsored by Tasmanian Senators Abetz, David Bushby and Labor’s Anne Urquhart yesterday to express support for Tasmania’s salmon industry.

Senator Duniam said the motion had been supported by every senator.

Originally published as Liberal senators Eric Abetz and Jonathon Duniam take aim at Andrew Wilkie on fish