Announcement on Macquarie Harbour by Prime Minister a hollow promise

The Prime Minister's announcement today to change environmental legislation in favour of industrial activity will not be possible to deliver before a new government is formed. "To alter environmental legislation designed to protect nature, and weaken the EPBC Act, is a calculating promise to buy Tasmanian votes, not just in Macquarie Harbour, but all areas impacted by salmon farming and extractive industry" says Jessica Coughlan, Campaigner at Neighbours of Fish Farming.

"The PM has already pledged a $21 million subsidy in tax payer dollars for an oxygenation program for salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour that lost over 1100 tonnes of fish to disease and warming waters last summer. We anticipate the numbers to be at least repeated this year. This industry is not operating sustainably, and the Australian public should be outraged at the subsidies, and the promise to weaken environmental laws to placate the foreign-owned salmon companies. The same companies that have not paid any corporate tax in the past 4 years.

West coast and all Tasmanians should be sceptical of any promises made before an election. Funding and legislation for workforce transition— the best long-term investment—should be the priority for the next Australian Government."

• All comments attributable to Jess Coughlan, Campaigner, Neighbours of Fish Farming 0431684741, noff7112@gmail.com

Meanwhile, Peter George, Independent candidate for the Federal seat of Franklin, accuses Prime Minister Albanese of abandoning Labor's commitment to "no new extinctions" in a desperate attempt to hold on to Tasmanian seats in the Federal election.

"The future of the endangered Maugean skate in Macquarie harbour is being driven by politics rather than commonsense and science. Any sensible reading of the scientific guidance shows Mr Albanese has taken cautious advice from scientists about Maugean skate numbers in Macquarie Harbour and turned it into a disgraceful vote-winning exercise. Both Labor and Liberal parties in Tasmania have jumped on the bandwagon with their usual abandonment of Tasmanians in favour of the big donors."

And State Minister Eric Abetz has stepped in, saying that Federal Labor cannot be trusted to keep Tasmanian salmon jobs safe. He said State Labor has taken the bait hook, line, and sinker.

"If Dean Winter truly believes his political masters in Canberra will change the law after the election, he may as well believe in the tooth fairy. Tasmanians can see clear as day that this is another political con job from a failing Federal Labor Government" he said.