Mr BAYLEY - Mr Bolt, I am keen to continue the conversation about the Maugean skate, a critically endangered species in Macquarie Harbour. I am sure you are very familiar with it. Dr Woodruff started a line of questioning on this last year. Since then there has been some very comprehensive conservation advice released by the federal Government that identifies that the oxygen levels in the harbour largely driven by salmon farming in the harbour but potentially exacerbated by the activities of Hydro is a significant threat to the skate and something needs to be done.
I'm aware of your media release that announced the modelling and responded to the conservation advice in terms of getting the river flow modelling up and running again. Last year's conversation talked about an invitation from the salmon industry about the establishment of a committee and that you were going to work with the salmon industry on a committee. Could you give us an update on that committee? How that is going, what actions the actual committee is taking and where you are with taking genuine action to protect the skate.
Mr BOLT - Thank you for the question. Just to perhaps reinforce your point that we are very focused on the Maugean skate, pardon me if I got the pronunciation wrong. More critically, it is, as you say, listed as critically endangered and we have been actively involved in seeking solutions to its decline. It is a complex question as to what our contribution could be to any recovery effort for the skate. We are seeking to be part of the solution and for exactly how we are doing it and the establishment of committees and our involvement in them, it is best that I pass on to Ian.
Mr BROOKSBANK - Thank you, as you know, the state and federal Governments are co ordinating a recovery effort for the skate. I will avoid its pronunciation. We are committed to working collaboratively with those organisations as part of the Maugean Skate Recovery Team, which I believe is the body you are referring to.
Mr BAYLEY - It seemed from last year's dialogue it was an invitation from the Salmon Growers' Association itself and you were going to have some kind of sub-committee or separate committee that was going to talk about actions and collaborations. Did that ever get up? Whatever happened with that committee proposal?
Mr BROOKSBANK - Thank you for the question. My understanding is that the Maugean Skate Recovery Team that I just mentioned has not replaced it and that that particular body or engagement that you are talking to did not progress. Since then, of course, we waited on that committee for a terms of reference which never arrived and since then the salmon industry peak body CEO has changed over.
Mr BAYLEY - On that, how do you feel about that Mr Brooksbank? Clearly, the salmon industry has a very important role to play here and the science is still being understood as to what contributing factor Hydro has, but the CEO of the Salmon Growers' Association in a recent media engagement on 7 November said: 'It is high time for Hydro Tasmania to step up and play it its part in the recovery of the skate, especially having just posted a $168 million profit'. Have relationships broken down with the Salmon Growers' Association? Do you feel as if there still a collaborative space there to work for the benefit of this species?
Mr BROOKSBANK - Thank you for the question. You mentioned there is still a lot of work to be undertaken to understand exactly what is contributing to the dissolved oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour. It is complex. We know that river flows are certainly one of the factors, weather conditions are another. The impact of climate change, the aquaculture biomass, there are legacy mining run offs and waste water input. No, I do not think the relationship with the salmon industry has soured or deteriorated as you are suggesting. I think there is certainly a body that we are all working through to ensure that we are understanding, letting the science help us understand what is going on in the harbour, such that we can then know what are the actions to make a real sustainable improvement for the skate.
Mr BAYLEY - How would you respond to that call from the salmon industry to step up and play your part?
Mr BROOKSBANK - The salmon industry clearly has a heavy involvement in the harbour. We have stood up for engagement, et cetera. There has been no reach out to me at a personal level, for example, so I would say my email address and phone number and the organisation I work for at an operational level, at an officer level, we are working with the body that has been set up. We are working with the state governments and we are looking forward to a better understanding of the courses of the dissolved oxygen level.
Mr BAYLEY - Just seems to me that there is some blame shifting going on here.
