The Australian Workers’ Union has commended the Albanese Government’s legislative amendment to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
AWU National Secretary Paul Farrow said the legislation finally ended unnecessary uncertainty around fish farming operations in Macquarie Harbour and provided clarity for Tasmanian workers.
“Our Tassie members have known for years that inner-city activists are unhinged and hysterical about salmon, but it was still helpful of Senator Hanson-Young to provide a visual yesterday,” Mr Farrow said.
“I hope Senator Hanson-Young at least shared some of that delicious salmon with her colleagues, they could probably use a little protein and omega-3.
"By contrast, the move from the Albanese Government required both common sense and courage. It will come as a huge relief for regional Tasmanian families who rely on this industry and have seen it unfairly demonised.
"For years, workers have faced unnecessary uncertainty driven by blinkered activists who have decided this is a trendy issue and have been completely uninterested in the facts.
"There has never been rational, scientific evidence that the salmon industry and the Maugean skate cannot coexist. As the Prime Minister rightly acknowledged, it is entirely possible for Tasmania to have both a thriving aquaculture industry and improved water quality. Significant efforts have been undertaken to address and resolve historical water quality issues in Macquarie Harbour.
"Tasmania’s now strictly-regulated salmon farming industry sets global standards for environmental monitoring and compliance. It now employs sophisticated technologies and practices, such as dissolved nitrogen caps and engineered oxygenation systems, to ensure sustainability and drive ecological harmony.
"Tasmanian salmon is a fantastic product that Australians love and that the world loves. It contributes over a billion dollars annually to our economy, and is connected to around 10 per cent of Tasmanian jobs. With economic pressures growing, the state simply cannot afford to undermine successful industries based on misinformation and fear."
Mr Farrow noted that enhanced cooperation between the industry, scientific experts, and the government had directly contributed to significant improvements in the harbour’s environmental health.
"The Albanese Government’s decision allows our members to finally exhale, knowing that their livelihoods will no longer be used as political pawns in campaigns run from comfortable inner-city suburbs," Mr Farrow said.
"We strongly commend the Prime Minister for his leadership and decisive action."
Contact: Paul Farrow 0405 285 547
