Strahan concerned over Salmon farming restrictions

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has called on the Albanese Government to give greater certainty to the states salmon industry, warning livelihoods have been left in limbo.

Transcript

00:00 An industry living up to its reputation as a political battleground.

00:08 Liberal leader Peter Dutton has visited Strawn to meet with salmon farmers.

00:12 "We're really pleased to be here to speak to locals and to get a better understanding

00:15 of the practical environment and the issues which are really causing great angst and concern

00:22 to many locals here in Strawn."

00:25 Just last week Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a visit to Tasmania to reassure workers.

00:30 "I just think the Prime Minister was being dishonest with the people of Tasmania.

00:34 I think he came here with a glib line."

00:36 Consultation on whether a review of approvals of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour should

00:40 occur is underway.

00:42 After environmental groups raised concerns operations could wipe out the endangered Morgian

00:47 skate.

00:48 But those in the sector believe saving the skate shouldn't come at the cost of their

00:51 livelihoods.

00:52 "The impact isn't just only on Macquarie Harbour, it's broad.

00:57 So we have hatcheries all around the state."

00:59 "There's a lot of scrutiny on it, there's a lot of people talking intensely about it

01:03 and it seems to me too often some of the local people who live and work in this industry

01:07 don't often get heard enough."

01:09 A decision on where salmon farming can occur here in Macquarie Harbour is still under consideration

01:13 by the Federal Environment Minister.

01:15 In the meantime, a joint trial by the Commonwealth and Salmon Tasmania is set to begin, aiming

01:20 to increase the levels of dissolved oxygen here in the harbour and save the Morgian skate

01:25 from extinction.

01:26 "The Minister for the Environment needs to go through the due process under the former

01:30 Howard Government's laws that are before us.

01:32 That is what she is required to do by the law.

01:35 We know that Peter Dutton is a rare visitor to this island.

01:38 I'm glad he's finally turned up."

01:40 Minister Plibersek's office said she was unable to comment due to being a legal decision-maker

01:44 in the process.

01:45 Public consultation for the review closes next Friday.

01:48 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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