Labor stands for safe, secure, well-paid jobs, and good education helps get more Tasmanians into well-paid jobs.

Labor stands for safe, secure, well-paid jobs, and that means supporting job-creating industries like the Tasmanian salmon industry.

Salmon aquaculture is pivotal to Tasmania’s economy, it creates jobs and underpins the success of many other businesses too.

New data has revealed great news for the maugean skate population. The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies research also found that the skate’s population stabilised in 2021, with no overall decline since then.

The presence of juveniles at a similar proportion relative to adults in sampling that was seen in 2014 is another positive sign for the recovery of the maugean skate.

It builds on science from the independent EPA last week that showed oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour are the best it’s been in more than a decade. And research from UTAS that shows their oxygenation program has been even more successful than anticipated.

This new information will be impossible for the Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to ignore. It shows that it is possible for the maugean skate and salmon aquaculture to coexist in Macquarie Harbour. It shows that continued investment can mean a strong aquaculture industry and a healthy harbour environment.

Tasmanian Labor is confident that after taking into account all the relevant information now at her disposal, the Federal Minister see that the Tasmanian salmon industry is a great, sustainable industry that needs to be supported – not shut down.

Janie Finlay MP
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries and Water