Voters have right to know Labor’s plan for Macquarie Harbour salmon – before the election

Federal Labor and its electoral hopes in Tasmania – and potentially beyond – appear to be drowning in the tannin-stained waters of Macquarie Harbour.

The party seems torn between its courtship of green-tinged inner-city voters on the one hand, and its working-class roots and electoral hopes in regional Tassie seats on the other.

Its paralysis over salmon suggests a cold war between Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plibersek, with the extraordinary situation of a Prime Minister openly flirting with legislative change to neuter his Environment Minister.

The PM appears to want a pro-industry decision from Plibersek – or a legislative fix – and wise heads in Labor know they need it before the election is called.

Plibersek, from her own green-tinged seat of Sydney, appears determined not to be rushed – whatever the electoral consequences – or to be bullied into a “pro-jobs” outcome.

She has a statutory process to follow, any deviation from which will expose taxpayers to Federal Court action in a flash, as well as competing scientific reports and diverse community views to weigh.

Even so, it appears extraordinary that more than a year after her review of aquaculture approvals in the harbour began, she was, as of late last year, yet to receive a final departmental brief.

All sides in the debate suspect a go-slow.

Bob Brown Foundation activists putting a banner up on a salmon pen in Macquarie Harbour. Picture: Supplied.

The Prime Minister appeared to initially believe that some pro-industry rhetoric and cash to literally blow bubbles – an oxygenation project – would keep the natives quiet until after the election.

It was never going to cut it. Despite all the jokes, Tasmanians are politically astute and smell a dud deal from far across Bass Strait.

Voters – especially salmon workers whose livelihoods are at stake – have a right to know which way Labor will go on this issue before casting their ballots.

Ongoing uncertainty over Labor’s position aids Peter Dutton and the Greens alike; a perverse achievement for a PM painted by opponents as a chronic underachiever.

Worse for Albo, the confusion plays perfectly into the Coalition’s attempts to paint him as weak and indecisive.

Failure to lock in real certainty for the industry before calling an election will likely doom Labor’s hopes of snatching the northwest seat of Braddon from the Liberals.

It could also complicate Labor’s battle to retain Lyons, where former state leader Rebecca White has been parachuted in to sandbag a 0.9 per cent margin.

And Agriculture Minister Julie Collins could face a significant backlash in her albeit safe seat of Franklin.

White and Collins are understood to be among Labor figures urging the PM to resolve the issue pre-election.

Failure to do so will alienate voters on all sides of the debate, far and wide, and accentuate perceptions of a hand-wringing PM.