The Tasmanian Liberal party has vowed to halt salmon farm expansion and conduct an independent assessment of the industry in an effort to garner support from crossbench MPs and weather a no-confidence motion in the state parliament this week.
As a concession to independent MPs critical of the operations of salmon farms in public waterways, Premier Jeremy Rockliff stated on Sunday that, despite supporting the industry, it is “on notice” following a mass mortality event last summer. He emphasized that the industry must operate in a transparent and responsible manner and satisfy its obligations to the community.
Rockliff announced that the government would implement a marine environment act to bolster industry regulation and commission a study by an external specialist organization. The process would entail a temporary halt on industry expansion.
The commitment to review the salmon farming industry follows the revelation that an endemic bacteria responsible for a significant die-off of salmon at farms last summer is still present at heightened levels at farms in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, south of Hobart.
The proposal is aligned with measures recommended by independent MPs Peter George and Craig Garland, who cautiously welcomed Rockliff’s announcement but called for more details. The Greens also cautiously endorsed the move, noting the industry’s past environmental failings.
Labor, however, remains skeptical of Rockliff’s pledge, arguing that he has a history of broken promises. The party’s spokesperson for aquaculture and the environment, Janie Finlay, accused the premier of solely seeking to maintain power.
This latest promise is part of several recent announcements aimed at securing crossbench support following a recent election that yielded a parliamentary composition similar to the previous one. Despite these efforts, the Liberals hope to secure a fifth consecutive term in government.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/17/tasmanian-salmon-farming-expansion-on-hold-liberal-party-jeremy-rockcliff
