MEDIA RELEASE – LABOR’S SUPPOSED SALMON FIX NOT FOOLING ANYONE

21 February 2025

Recent letters from the three salmon industry representatives, the Leader of the Opposition and the Premier of Tasmania point out to the Prime Minister that his supposed legislative solution to the salmon crisis of his government’s own making is nothing more than a hollow commitment unless it is implemented before the election.

Otherwise, the Prime Minister is leaving the fate of Tasmanian salmon workers in the hands of a potential minority Labor-Greens-Teals Government. These minor parties would kill off any attempt by Labor to legislate the protection of salmon industry workers, whereas the Coalition have always had the backs of salmon workers and would not be held hostage to minor parties demands.

Shadow Environment Minister, Jonno Duniam, says that the Prime Minister can’t leave these workers hanging any longer: “Labor is playing games with Tasmanians on a so-called solution that means nothing until it is actually legislated in the Parliament.”

“The Coalition has offered to fast-track legislation to save salmon jobs for over a year. We could have dealt with this over the last sitting fortnight, but Mr Albanese didn’t introduce any legislation. We are now urging the Prime Minister to recall the Parliament to pass this urgent piece of legislation.”

“The Prime Minister could call the election at any minute. If he does so before the Parliament’s next scheduled sitting day on March 25, then we know that he has been playing games with Tasmanians all along.”

In November 2023, the Labor Environment Minister gave into three activist organisations’ demands, including the taxpayer-funded Environmental Defenders Office, to review salmon farming on Macquarie Harbour. The review continues to this day.

“A simple solution without the Parliament reconvening would be for the Labor Government to end its review into salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour. Either the Government does this or reconvenes Parliament. If they don’t do either, they are not serious about saving Tassie jobs,” Senator Duniam said.

“The mess and uncertainty that salmon workers and their families have endured are entirely the result of the Labor Party. They now have an opportunity to put Tasmanians out of their misery.”