“Shutting down salmon aquaculture in Macquarie Harbour will cost hundreds of jobs, families will be forced to move, services will close, and even the local school could face closure.”
A delegation from Tasmania’s salmon aquaculture sector is heading to Canberra to meet with key government officials, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in an effort to protect jobs in the industry.
The group, known as the “Save Our Jobs Delegation,” comprises workers and science experts from Tassal Group, Petuna Aquaculture, and Huon Aquaculture, along with representatives from The Australian Workers’ Union, Devonport City Council Mayor Alison Jarman, West Coast Council Mayor Shane Pitt, and Salmon Tasmania CEO Luke Martin.
The delegation is scheduled to meet with the Prime Minister, senior Liberal MPs, Tasmanian representatives, Senators, and other Members of Parliament on Wednesday.
The primary concern is the potential impact of a decision by Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, which the delegation fears could lead to the shutdown of salmon aquaculture in Macquarie Harbour.
West Coast Mayor Shane Pitt expressed concern that his community could be adversely affected by political decisions made in Canberra, driven by environmental groups and voters in inner-city areas. He emphasized the importance of taking the fight to the nation’s capital, stating, “When you live somewhere remote like we do on the West Coast, we tend to get a sense of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ when it comes to our decision makers in Canberra.”
Salmon Tasmania CEO Luke Martin echoed these concerns, highlighting the potential consequences of shutting down the industry. Martin stated, “There is so much at stake in this decision – shutting down salmon aquaculture in Macquarie Harbour will cost hundreds of jobs, families will be forced to move, services will close, and even the local school could face closure.”
The delegation aims to ensure that the voices of those most affected by the decision are heard and to emphasize the industry’s confidence in the science and regulation supporting its operations. Martin added, “We’re confident in the science and regulation that underpins our industry. In fact, the health of the harbour is now near its healthiest in the decade.”
