Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

WHISH-WILSON () (): My question is to Senator Wong, Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water. Last year your government announced its commitment to a zero extinctions target for Australian native flora and fauna. During this announcement, Minister Plibersek proclaimed, 'I will not shy away from difficult problems or accept environmental decline and extinction as inevitable.' Minister, the ancient endangered maugean skate has been with us since the dinosaurs. It is found only in Macquarie Harbour, on the west coast of Tasmania, but has seen a 47 per cent decline in its tiny population between 2014 and 2021, since the expansion of industrial salmon farming in the harbour. Scientists researching the skate tell us it is possibly one extreme weather event away from extinction. Given the El Niño forecasts for marine heatwaves in the coming months in Tasmania, what is your government doing to immediately safeguard the skate from an extinction event this summer?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think I got a question last week from Senator Duniam which was probably the other side of this discussion, and I appreciate, as with so many issues in Tasmania, they're very strongly held views on either side of a very clear line. I appreciate that your focus is on one aspect of these matters in relation to Macquarie Harbour. Obviously, I got a question last week in relation to the Tasmanian salmon industry, and I would refer you to my answer to Senator Duniam about the industry.

I'm advised that the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will soon begin consultation about salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour. The consultation is as a result of applications made under the national environment laws by three groups who argue that salmon farming is having an unacceptable impact on the maugean skate—as you said, an endangered fish. I'd make the point that the environmental laws which require these applications to be considered were passed by the Howard government in, I think, early 2000.

In addition, Ms Plibersek has announced a $2.1 million commitment to establish a captive breeding program to help the maugean skate. Obviously, there will be an opportunity in the consultation to consider the work of the joint Tasmanian and federal government maugean skate recovery team, the decision of the Tasmanian government's EPA, conservation advice on the maugean skate, community views and any other relevant matters.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Whish-Wilson, a first supplementary?

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, the government's own conservation advice states that increasing water oxygenation through immediately destocking industrial salmon farming is the most critical action required to save the endangered skate from extinction. Why is Minister Plibersek consulting, ignoring the science and shying away from this difficult problem by not immediately pausing salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for his question. There are a quite number of assertions in that, which obviously I don't accept.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's your own conservation advice. Your own scientists are telling you that.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, I don't accept—and I'd refer you back to the status of the current applications and the commitment that Minister Plibersek has made to consultation. After the consultation period ends, the department will take some time to carefully consider the information received. The minister has indicated that salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour does not have to pause while this occurs; I infer that that is a decision open to her. I also infer, from what you have said, that that's not something with which you agree, but that is obviously the decision that the minister has made.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Whish-Wilson, a second supplementary?

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, I'm going to ask you a question—and perhaps you and I can both look back on the answers when we leave this place. Can I ask you one of the great moral and political questions of our time: how many industry jobs are worth the avoidable extinction of a critically endangered species? Specifically, how many salmon industry jobs on the West Coast of Tasmania are worth the extinction of the ancient maugean skate?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think we've made clear that we do support the aquaculture industry, including the Tasmanian salmon industry, but we've also said that the industry needs to continue to demonstrate that it can operate in a sustainable and responsible manner. I note that, just as some on one side of the debate will say that any environmental regulation is anti job, on the other side of the debate, you have some, on your side of the debate, who've seemed to assert—

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, there's been no regulation.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Whish-Wilson, you've asked your question.

Order! Order, Senator Whish-Wilson. You've asked your question. The minister is answering. Minister Wong, please continue.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We're back to binaries again. I know that it is politically easy and useful for campaigning to—

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You have a zero extinction target!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Whish-Wilson, I've called you to order!

Senator Whish-Wilson! Senator Whish-Wilson! Minister, please continue.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I understand that there are some who have a very clear view about 'yay' or 'nay'. I think that it is possible, with goodwill and good scientific evidence, to try and ensure that industries operate sustainably, and that is a good thing for the environment and for jobs. (Time expired)