• Conservation Councils have written to the PM stating the move to introduce special legislation for the salmon industry would set a dangerous precedent that overrides Australia’s nature laws, disregards international World Heritage obligations and poses a serious risk to many of Australia’s other threatened species.
• On Wednesday, the PM confirmed the intention to introduce special legislation that would ensure salmon farming remains in Macquarie Harbour. 
• Salmon farming has been deemed “catastrophic” to the endangered Maugean skate with Macquarie Harbour being the skate’s only habitat. Skate numbers remain critically low and vulnerable to extreme weather events. One third of the harbour forms part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
• The legislation would likely override a EPBC Act review of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour underway by the Environment Minister Plibersek.
• The Coalition has also pledged to ensure salmon farming remains in the harbour if it wins government.

Conservation Councils from around Australia have united in a letter to Prime Minister Albanese warning that plans to introduce special legislation to protect the salmon industry in Macquarie Harbour Tasmania, in spite of the “catastrophic” threat posed by farms to the endangered Maugean skate and a review by the Environment Minister underway, has the potential to set a dangerous precedent that could cause irreparable harm to the country’s many threatened species and globally significant World Heritage Areas. 

Letter signatories: Environment Victoria, Queensland Conservation Council, Nature Conservation Council, Conservation Council of WA, Environment Centre NT, Conservation Council SA, Conservation Council ACT Region, Environment Tasmania

“The introduction of special legislation for industry poses a serious threat not just to the ancient endangered Maugean skate, but to Australia’s nature laws and the many threatened species that rely on them, our globally renowned World Heritage Areas, as well as Tasmanian and Australia’s international standing and reputation” said James Overington, CEO, Environment Tasmania

“It’s an astonishing turn of events that the same Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area that the then Federal Labour Government protected from industrial destruction back in 1983 is now at threat due to the current Federal Labour Government’s desire to appease the salmon industry” said Kelly Roebuck, Vice Chair, Environment Tasmania 

“The Australian Government promised no new extinctions. The dinosaur-era Maugean skate remains one of the most endangered shark and rays species in the world. Tasmania is facing the highest profile potential extinction since the loss of the Thylacine or Tasmanian Tiger. The irreversible harm to the Tasmanian brand and economy is not worth the risk for a few multi-national foreign owned salmon companies” said Kelly Roebuck, Vice Chair, Environment Tasmania

Media contacts: 

James Overington, CEO, Environment Tasmania 0403 833 776 [email protected] 

Kelly Roebuck, Vice Chair, Environment Tasmania 0432 660 064

We call on Anthony Albanese to uphold Australia’s national nature laws and abandon setting a dangerous precedent

Dear Prime Minister,

We, the Conservation Councils of Australia’s States and Territories, are gravely concerned by your vow to introduce ‘special legislation’ to protect salmon farming corporate interests – effectively overriding our national nature laws, disregarding Australia’s international obligations under the World Heritage Convention, and setting a dangerous precedent that could place threatened species from across the country at even greater risk of extinction. 

Your decision to award the salmon industry special protection from national laws could wipe out the iconic, millenia-old Maugean skate whose only population exists within the confines of Macquarie harbour, Tasmania. It is critical to understand that despite recent signs of juvenile recruitment, skate numbers remain critically low and its single population remains extremely vulnerable to extreme weather events such as those in 2019 which reduced the population by nearly half (47%).

The unprecedented step of introducing special legislation undermines the Environment Minister’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 review of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour. We also believe the proposed law would directly conflict with Australia's international obligations to UNESCO under the World Heritage Convention. The Maugean skate is recognized as a world heritage value of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area which encompasses one third of Macquarie Harbour. Thus, there is an obligation on the government to ensure the preservation of  the TWWHA and vis-à-vis the skate. 

A flourishing environment is a pillarstone of Tasmania’s economy and brand. Tasmania is facing its highest profile extinction since the Thylacine. Handing the salmon industry an exemption could jeopardise the livelihoods of thousands of Tasmanians who are dependent on the Tasmanian brand. 

Impacts would also be felt beyond Tasmania. If you introduce special legislation for Macquarie Harbour, it sets a dangerous precedent that could be replicated across the country. The last remaining refuges for many of Australia's threatened species could be opened up for industrial interests. Today, it is the Maugean skate on the chopping block, tomorrow it could be the majestic Gouldian Finch in Australia’s north or the beautiful Orange Bellied Parrot in Australia’s south. 

We would like to remind you that in 1983 then Labor Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, prevented the construction of the Gordon Dam by protecting the TWWHA and upholding Australia’s obligation under the World Heritage Convention. That Prime Minister went on to win several more terms.

Your government is yet to fulfil its election commitment to strengthen our nation’s nature laws, despite overwhelming support from Australians to do so, we urge you not to erode what current protections the EPBC Act does provide. We call on you to uphold your government’s zero new extinctions pledge and abandon plans to introduce a new law that protects salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.

Sincerely,

James Overington, CEO, Environment Tasmania

Jono La Nauze, CEO, Environment Victoria

Kirsty Bevan, CEO, Conservation Council SA

Simon Copeland, Director, Conservation Council ACT and Region

Jacqui Mumford, CEO, Nature Conservation Council of NSW

Mia Pepper, Acting Executive Director, Conservation Council WA

Dave Copeman, Director, Queensland Conservation Council

Steph Griffin, Acting/Co Executive Director, Environment Centre NT