Tasmanian Labor leader hits out at Federal Environment Minister over salmon farming

State Labor leader has taken a shot at his federal counterpart over her impending decision on salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour. Here’s the latest.

Salmon farming pens in Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania. Photo: Eloise Carr

Tasmanian Labor Leader Dean Winter has hit out at Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, who is also a member of the same party as him, over her delay in deciding whether to ban aquaculture in Macquarie Harbour.

In response, a spokesperson for Ms Plibersek said she would “listen to the science and follow the law, as she is required to do”.

The Environment Minister has been reviewing whether to continue allowing salmon farming at Macquarie Harbour near Strahan.

The review was triggered after pressure from environmental groups, which have attributed aquaculture to the declining Maugean skate population.

Ms Plibersek’s original decision deadline was October 30, 2024, but it has been pushed back a full year.

Tasmanian Labor Leader Dean Winter speaking to salmon workers at the Petuna processing plant in Devonport. Picture: Simon McGuire.

On Friday, Mr Winter and other politicians on both sides of parliament joined salmon industry representatives at the Petuna processing plant in Devonport to address salmon workers.

The state opposition leader wanted to see aquaculture continue in Macquarie Harbour.

“My message to these workers at Petuna and to the workers on the West Coat is that Tasmanian Labor has your back,” Mr Winter said.

“My message to Ms Plibersek is it’s time to make a decision.

“We need a positive decision that supports Tasmanian jobs, and we want to see a Tasmanian aquaculture industry that can continue to thrive.

“I don’t think the continued uncertainty does Tasmania any good at all.”

West Coast Mayor Shane Pitt was also in attendance at Petuna and said the community’s morale was “not real good” due to the uncertainty surrounding the region’s aquaculture industry.

“Their lives are on hold at the moment and have been for the last 12 months,” Mr Pitt said.

“It’s time the Prime Minister and Minister Plibersek ended the EPBC review so these people can get on with their lives.”

West Coast Mayor Shane Pitt speaking to salmon workers at the Petuna processing plant in Devonport. Picture: Simon McGuire.

The Petuna visit also coincided with new polling by The Australia Institute, which found that 58 per cent of people nationwide supported stopping fish farming in areas where it is putting the endangered Maugean skate at risk of extinction.

The poll surveyed 1009 people.

However, Salmon Tasmania CEO Luke Martin questioned the validity of the polling.

“We always happen to lose sight of the fact they are a front group for the Greens, the policy arm of the Australian Greens party,” Mr Martin said.

“So I’m used to their polling; they are very selective about how they use their polling and drop it.

“Interestingly, this particular one, I’ve noticed they haven’t asked Tasmanians; they’ve gone and done a survey on the mainland, which shows what they’re all about – putting pressure on Ms Plibersek to try and chase votes in Sydney.”

Mr Martin said he was more interested in Tasmanians’ views, especially those living in the North-West of the state, about aquaculture in Macquarie Harbour.

“And we’re pretty confident that the vast majority of objective Tasmanians are on the side of jobs, on the side of science, and on the side of wanting certainty for their fellow Tasmanian workers.”