Reports the Prime Minister is considering exempting fish farming in Macquarie Harbour from environmental laws is a brute display of corporate power getting outcomes from politicians.
For Albanese to use a ‘national interest’ exemption, available only for emergency situations, to override laws that protect a species’ extinction for the benefit of international corporate profits is an incredible abuse of power.
Environment laws exist to protect the most vulnerable places and creatures. Seeking to bypass national environmental laws for the Labor Government’s corporate mates in the aquaculture industry is shameful.
The Environment Minister has already put off making a decision on the fate of the Maugean skate until after the next election. The Labor Prime Minister has now decided he cares more about securing votes in a marginal electorate before a federal election than the extinction of an ancient species.
The science is black and white definite that the Maugean skate has been pushed to the brink of extinction by salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.
If the Maugean skate is to have a chance at survival, the IMAS scientists’ direction is to remove fish farms immediately from Macquarie Harbour must be followed. This will obviously have an impact on the west coast community, which is why we have long-called for the Liberals to establish and fund a transition for this workforce into sustainable employment.
Federal Labor needs to respect Australia’s environment laws, and live up to their promise of not causing the extinction of another species. If Tanya Plibersek doesn’t act soon, the only place the Maugean skate will be found is in the history books.
