A Greens’ motion calling for salmon companies to be transparent with the public about the use of antibiotics in Tasmanian waterways has been voted down in the Legislative Council, with the Liberals and Labor voting together.
In Budget Estimates last year, it was revealed more than 800kg of florfenicol had been dumped in Southeast waters by salmon farming companies in just three weeks. That’s more than 10% of the amount of antibiotics used across all salmon farms in the last six years.
While the Greens have been calling for the use of florfenicol to be disclosed publicly, the Liberals have refused this basic measure of transparency. We’ve asked in Parliament, at Department briefings and through RTIs – nothing.
Salmon farming companies’ permit for the use florfenicol has been suspended by the APVMA over risks to wild fish exports. But Tasmanians are still in the dark about just how much antibiotics they used in Tasmanian waters this summer.
It’s just not good enough – Tasmanians deserve to know what the salmon industry are doing in public waterways. It’s time the Liberals and Labor stopped putting salmon farming companies ahead of Tasmanian communities and wild fishers. It’s state capture and it works against the public interest.
I thank my upper house colleagues who spoke in support of and agreed with our motion. The fight for greater transparency over antibiotic use in public coastal waters will continue until there is a public portal with real-time information on the use of antibiotics by salmon farming companies.
