Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment. Can the minister tell the Senate how many jobs depend on aquaculture on Tasmania's West Coast, and how many jobs would be lost if Minister Plibersek proceeds with her threats to pause or stop salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Colbeck. I'm very conscious, of course, as the minister for agriculture and fisheries, of the issues that Senator Colbeck is referring to. I've been working very closely with Minister Plibersek around the issues relating to salmon farming on the West Coast of Tasmania and, of course, ensuring that the views and concerns of the salmon industry and the many people who work for it are considered in any government decision-making.

I don't quite agree with the characterisation of Minister Plibersek's actions that you have put forward, Senator Colbeck. I don't consider that she has made threats to close down the industry. What she is actually doing at the moment is observing a legal process. There are a number of groups who have asked her—and made a formal application—to reconsider various environmental approvals that have previously been provided. She has a legal obligation to consider that request, and that is what she is doing at the moment.

What you will also find is that Minister Plibersek and our government have actually provided significant amounts of funding—in the millions of dollars—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Senator Colbeck?

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President, I have a point of order on direct relevance. I did ask the minister to advise on the number of jobs at threat based on Minister Plibersek's threats. They are genuine threats that were made in a letter from the minister to the Tasmanian Premier this week.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Colbeck, the minister is being relevant to your question. Minister Watt.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President, and thank you, Senator Colbeck. I have already acknowledged that there are significant numbers of workers in the salmon industry on the West Coast of Tasmania, as there are across Tasmania as a whole. The interests of those workers and the companies they work for are something in the forefront of the government's mind. The reality is that Minister Plibersek has now received an application from a number of groups to reconsider those environmental approvals. It wouldn't matter whether it were a Labor minister or a Liberal minister or a National Party minister; they are legally obliged to consider that request and that is what Minister Plibersek is considering.

What I was attempting to say is that the government has already provided funding to support the salmon industry and reduce the oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Colbeck, your first supplementary.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, given your answer, will you guarantee that not a single job will be lost on the west coast as a result of any decision taken by the Minister for the Environment and Water relating to salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Colbeck. Senator Colbeck would remember from his time as a minister that ministers don't provide guarantees of the sort that he is requiring. I can remember many occasions when we attempted to get guarantees from ministers, including Senator Colbeck, on various situations, and those guarantees weren't made and, of course, can't be made. But what I can guarantee is that the Albanese government is a strong supporter of the salmon industry in Tasmania, and its backing that up not just with words but with funding.

Minister Plibersek has announced $2.1 million in Australian government funding to establish a captive breeding program to help the maugean skate—something that the salmon industry requested that we do. We've also, through the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, partnered with industry in a new initiative worth up to $6 million to stimulate dissolved oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour. So we are taking action to work with the industry around the environmental issues that have been raised.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Colbeck, second supplementary?

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Salmon workers in Tasmania will be pleased to know there are no guarantees. Minister, Christmas is approaching, and Australians are now further engulfed in Labor's cost-of-living crisis, yet Minister Plibersek is creating even more anxiety for Tasmanians with her inability to provide certainty to the thousands of workers collectively employed in the salmon industry in Tasmania, the MMG mine and the forestry sector. Minister, why will you not give a—

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just shut it down!

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and I'll take the interjection from the Greens, who just want to close the industry down—guarantee to their jobs. (Time expired)

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

(—) (): As I said, Senator Colbeck, it might seem strange, but ministers are required to follow the law. I know that Scott Morrison, when he was the Prime Minister, went and created new portfolios for himself and found ways around the law, but, Senator Colbeck, I actually think you're a decent man and I know that as the minister you would have followed the law. If these applications had been made to you as a minister then you would have considered them in the way the law requires. That's what's going on at the moment. But the government's support for the salmon industry can be seen not just from those investments that I've already mentioned: the $2.1 million to create a captive breeding program and the money that we're providing through the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation around dissolved oxygen levels. But we're actually an active partner in a national recovery team for the maugean skate, which is about protecting that species but also attempting to keep the salmon industry going. So our credentials are very strong on this, and we'll keep working on it. (Time expired)