Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

This is a shameless political stunt from Senator Duniam and those on that side of the chamber. This isn't about trying to protect the maugean skate; this isn't even about protecting jobs or the salmon industry. This is purely about the Tasmanian state election that's coming on Saturday, when they're going to go from being a majority Liberal government to maybe trying to cobble together a minority government with the help of their great mates the Jacqui Lambie Network. We will wait and see, but on the Wednesday before the state election that's what this is all about. Quite clearly, they're concerned about the Labor team, led by the very competent Rebecca White, and how she will become the new leader in Tasmania. We will wait and see about that. But what they are not concerned about is the west coast. They're not concerned about skates. All they're about is scaremongering and trying to raise this issue prior to the state election.

I have a few facts for those opposite. Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, the minister for the environment is required to undertake a reconsideration if there are valid requests. They know that from when they were in government. This process was not initiated by the federal government, but it is required under the national environmental laws passed by the Howard government back in 2000, so this is not the makings of this government.

There was consultation with the public and interested stakeholders from 4 December 2023 to 2 February 2024 about salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour and, in particular, the impacts on the endangered maugean skate. There were over 2,500 submissions received through the public consultation process, and Minister Plibersek is now considering all the relevant comments, together with other information relevant to be reconsidered. Throughout this process, we have sought to ensure that the industry is supported as well as it can be to engage in the consultation, along with any others in this community who have views that they believe should be considered.

Those on this side and those on that side know very well that we have a unity ticket on protecting and supporting the salmon industry and regional jobs, but, then again, it serves their political purposes to raise this issue around the state election. But Minister Watt, as fisheries minister, met with the West Coast Council, industry and community representatives in Strahan. In those discussions, it was very clear that everyone wanted to protect the maugean skate. We want to ensure the conservation and recovery of those skates, but we also understand the importance of—and I've spoken many times in this chamber about this—salmon aquacultural jobs in regional communities and how important that sector is, and we want to protect those jobs.

It's important that all sectors operating in sensitive environments do so in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner. Our government is committed to supporting the sustainable growth of the Australian fishing and aquacultural sector. The salmon-farming sector is an important contributor to the Tasmanian and Australian economy, providing high-value, healthy seafood for the Australian community and export market. The industry itself recognises that it needs to manage its operations in a sustainable and responsible manner. The salmon industry takes these issues very seriously, which is why it is leading the work to protect the maugean skate.

We are partnering with the industry through the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation on an initiative, worth more than $7 million, to stimulate oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour. The Australian and Tasmanian governments have established the National Recovery Team for the Maugean Skate to recover skate while minimising community impact. These are the facts that needed to be put on the table—that the Australian government is funding research, including $2.15 million for a captive breeding program and $3.3 million for an oxygen generation trial. With the Tasmanian government and the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre, we are working to allow a trial of aquaculture in Commonwealth waters further offshore. These are the facts that are on the record. It's not about scaremongering, and— (Time expired)