‘Don’t be slippery’: salmon bosses in Albanese election salvo over Macquarie Harbour uncertainty
Anthony Albanese has suffered a pre-election shock in the key battleground of Tasmania, with salmon CEOs demanding more than his word on fish farming in contested Macquarie Harbour.
Anthony Albanese’s belief he had neutralised Tasmanian salmon as an election issue has been shattered, with three CEOs demanding the future of aquaculture in Macquarie Harbour be secured – before the poll is called.
The Prime Minister wrote to the three salmon companies last weekend pledging legislation to guarantee ongoing operations and no job losses in the western harbour.
His pledge – an apparent means of circumventing a review of aquaculture in the harbour by his Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek – was at the time welcomed by the $1.46bn industry’s supporters.
However, there is increasing concern the pledge came with no detail of the legislation proposed and no timelines for a bill or for a decision by Ms Plibersek.
Industry fears Labor may be required to govern in minority after the election, due by May, and that anti-salmon Greens or independents will make removal of fish pens from the harbour a condition of support.
Ahead of an expected visit by the PM to Tasmania this weekend, all three salmon company CEOs on Thursday wrote back to him, demanding action before an election is called.
The bosses of JBS Huon Aquaculture, Tassal Group and Petuna Seafood tell Mr Albanese his Environment Minister should immediately end her review, triggered by requests from conservation-minded groups.
With new research showing an increase in the population of an endangered skate central to Ms Plibersek’s review, the CEOs say the minister should make an immediate decision, green-lighting operations to continue.
“We believe the … reconsideration requests can and should be brought to conclusion immediately by rejecting the requests,” write Doug Paulin, of Petuna, Mark Ryan, of Tassal, and Henrique Batista, of Huon.
“We are extremely concerned about the significant period of time that the reconsideration requests have remained on foot without a decision.
“And (about) the continued misinformation being spread about the industry and the doubt cast in the community regarding our operations.”
The high-powered trio tell Mr Albanese that, in the absence of an “immediate decision” by Ms Plibersek, they would support a legislative fix.
However, they say this too must be before an election is called. “We are ready, willing and able to lend any support necessary for the bill to be put before parliament and request this occurs urgently, prior to calling the federal election,” they say.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on Thursday increased the pressure on Mr Albanese, writing to him to urge either an immediate Plibersek decision or a bipartisan approach to urgent legislation.
“It is vital that certainty is provided to Tasmanians, especially salmon workers, who your government has ignored for too long,” Mr Dutton writes to Mr Albanese.
“Leaving either of the above matters unresolved until after the election only illustrates the weakness of your leadership and mistreatment of Tasmanian industry.”
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: “The government will introduce legislation during the next sitting of parliament. We are focused on getting this legislation right to ensure an enduring solution can be achieved.”
Coalition environment spokesman Jonno Duniam said the industry had called out the Prime Minister’s “hollow commitment”. “The Prime Minister’s supposed legislative ‘fix’ means nothing to West Coast salmon families unless the parliament can pass these laws before the election is called,” Senator Duniam said.
Ms Plibersek has repeatedly said she will make a considered decision based on science and the law, and that the government must balance jobs and the environment.
Salmon is key employer across regional Tasmania – including on the West Coast, in the marginal seat of Braddon, and south of Hobart in Franklin, where independents are trying to topple Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Julie Collins.
Macquarie Harbour provides about 13 per cent of the total salmon produced and is a key source of jobs and income for the town of Strahan, visited by Mr Albanese before Christmas.
The vast harbour makes up about half of all production for Petuna, which has warned its survival is at stake. As well, salmon produced in the harbour supports processing jobs at other sites.
Conservationists argue there is still sufficient concern about the impact of salmon pen pollution on water oxygen levels to justify removal of pens from the harbour.
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