Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Minister, last year I wrote to you about the ecological and human risks of any emergency approval for florfenicol for salmon. I received no response, and the approval proceeded. Since then, the antibiotic has been detected in wild marine life up to 10 kilometres from the fish pens. So what penalties will be imposed for this dangerous contamination, or will the government let the salmon companies off the hook again, angling for votes in Tasmania?

Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Clark for that question. As the member for Clark would be aware, the APVMA is an independent body and is responsible for the decisions around the emergency listing and use of florfenicol in Tasmanian waters. He would also know that it's the Tasmanian government's responsibility to manage its waterways. The APVMA has made a call that it may remove the emergency listing, and it is basing that decision, as it based its original decision, on new available evidence and science. And I remind him that it's an independent statutory authority.