11 February 2025
A Coalition motion calling for an end to the Labor-inflicted EPBC process on Macquarie Harbour was defeated in the Senate last night after the Federal Labor Government teamed up with the Greens. Extraordinarily, Independent Tasmanian Senators also abstained from a vote that sought certainty for salmon communities in Tasmania.
The joint motion by Tasmanian Liberal Senators Jonno Duniam, Claire Chandler, Richard Colbeck and Wendy Askew which called on the Government “to make a decision on the future of the salmon industry in Macquarie Harbour and end the uncertainty for the Tasmanians families whose livelihoods depend on it”, was defeated 25 votes to 31.
Senator Duniam is disappointed that other political parties were unwilling to support a motion that sought to break the impasse that the Labor Government inflicted on Tasmanians, choosing to sit on their hands rather than take action for salmon communities:
“This is yet another example of Labor and crossbench actions speaking louder than their words. Their words are strong, but their actions portray sentiment against our salmon communities.”
“The Coalition has constantly sought to bring certainty to the community of Strahan and have this unnecessary EPBC process stopped. We should all want this process to end, but the Government and many other Senators clearly don’t agree.”
“It was the Federal Labor Government that put the community of Strahan and salmon workers statewide into this mess. They have the power to get them out of it. With scientific evidence overwhelmingly pointing to a positive future for the Maugean Skate, Labor needs to make a decision immediately.”
“Federal Labor representatives and candidates are disingenuous when they say that they support salmon workers and the salmon industry when it is their political Party that has created the uncertainty. Labor’s stance on this motion is again proof of that.”
“My Federal Liberal colleagues and I will continue to pressure the Prime Minister and the Tasmanian Labor representatives to stop with the platitudes, and take tangible action in this term of government before the election is called. It will be too late and disingenuous for any announcements from the Labor Party during an election.”