Dr WOODRUFF – Premier, on 15 November 2025, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE) issued a notice to rock lobster fishers south of the Channel to –
Mr ROCKLIFF – D’Entrecasteaux, yes. It’s hard to say.
Dr WOODRUFF – That’s right, and south, to prohibit the fishing of rock lobsters, and that is, in their words, to ‘safeguard industries’ export market’. They don’t mention florfenicol. What else could it be? Can you confirm that the reason that notice was provided was because of florfenicol that’s being used by salmon companies?
Mr ROCKLIFF – To the best of my knowledge, yes.
Dr WOODRUFF – Okay.
Mr ROCKLIFF – If I’m otherwise advised, but that’s correct. I want to also state very clearly that when it comes to florfenicol and the safety of fish, it is safe to eat the fish and it’s safe to swim.
The export market, as you know, Dr Woodruff, is a very, very sensitive market and all primary producers, whether it be cherries or beef, or whatever the case may be, have to be extra vigilant, I suppose, and sensitive to the markets. In the case of rock lobster, there’s been heightened sensitivity over the course of the last five years, as you well appreciate, leading into COVID. You might need to be mindful of those sensitivities, so it’s that extra precaution, if you like.
Dr WOODRUFF – The fact is the Director of Public Health has said, ‘It is advised not to eat the fish for 21 days, if you catch them, to avoid antibiotic residue.’ That’s what he says.
This is the reason that salmon are withheld for consumption for a period of time, so that consumers at the supermarket do not eat fish that has antibiotics in them, but Tasmanians recreational fishers are not being given that same protection. Why are you not being honest with Tasmanians about that fact? Why is there no information at all on the government’s website that says not to fish for rock lobsters? There is nothing on the Fishing Tasmania or NRE Marine Resources websites at all about this situation. Why is your government withholding information from Tasmanians about what is really going on?
Mr ROCKLIFF – I would not characterise it as that at all. There has been no withholding of information, as I understand it. There has been a transparent process around this. It is safe to fish, eat and swim, and the sensitivity around the rock lobster in the south in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel is an extra precaution for export sensitivity, as I understand it.
Dr WOODRUFF – Rock lobster fishers and recreational fishers are locked out of those waters. What will it take for you to stand up to the salmon industry and stop them polluting the waters and actually make them make the changes they need to make to stop dumping antibiotics into the waters?
Mr ROCKLIFF – Firstly, this is regulated through the Commonwealth, as I understand it. Without having a brief in front of me, to the best of my knowledge it is regulated through the Commonwealth and they provide the approval.
Dr WOODRUFF – Yes, but they’ve been locked out and it is your state. You are in charge. You’re in charge of the regulations. You can require salmon companies to destock or fallow their pens when they’ve got disease instead of dumping antibiotics into the water. You are choosing to prioritise a multinational company over the marine environment and recreational fishers and now the rock lobster industry. What next?
Mr ROCKLIFF – These matters are looked at. Animal welfare is of heightened importance, as is production as well, and these are matters, as with any primary industry, done with the utmost precaution and evidence and science behind it. We were formally advised last week that the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), the independent federal regulator, had approved an emergency permit for florfenicol in Tasmanian salmon farms.
In regard to potential risks to recreational fishers, I note the advice provided by the Director of Public Health on the health website. Florfenicol is an antibiotic used in many countries for veterinary medicine, agriculture and agriculture, including salmon farms. When farmed salmon are treated with florfenicol in medicated feed, wild fish nearby may also eat some of this feed. There are no reports of adverse human health effects from exposure to traces of florfenicol in meat or fish. However, recreational fishers may choose to avoid exposure to antibiotic residues in the fish that they catch and eat.
There are no public health restrictions on recreational fishing within three kilometres of a treated lease. There are those who want to twist the matters, but they are the facts and this advice is cautionary, not mandatory. I note the industry has developed world-leading feed management systems that minimise feed wastage and reduce the likelihood of wild fish consuming treated pellets. The government will continue to take expert advice from Dr Veitch and Public Health on this matter.
Dr WOODRUFF – Premier, now that the commercial rock lobster market is at standstill because of florfenicol that salmon companies are using – what else? What’s next? What about the abalone market?
Mr ROCKLIFF – Well, again, also a sensitive market, as you know, as they both are ‑ and important markets for Tasmania, not only with the economic activity that’s generated, but also our brand. That’s why we need to ensure that this short‑term precautionary measure is there to safeguard Tasmania’s brand and, indeed, the relevant industry, as well.
Dr WOODRUFF – So, there is a risk, it sounds like. Have you been in conversations with the abalone industry about the potential risk to their market?
Mr ROCKLIFF – I haven’t personally –
Dr WOODRUFF – No – has anyone in your government been, then?
Mr ROCKLIFF – The Minister for Primary Industries, who I spoke to yesterday, I know has had conversations with the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council (TSIC) and Julian Harrington and the salmon industry, and I believe other stakeholders as well. That’s a question for Mr Pearce, but I know he’s been speaking to Julian Harrington, as I understand it, from TSIC.
Dr WOODRUFF – I mean, you said it’s a sensitive market.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Yes, it is.
Dr WOODRUFF – Yes. I mean, it’s sensitive for a reason –
Mr ROCKLIFF – That’s right.
Dr WOODRUFF – because it’s about antibiotic residues, and people are sensitive about antibiotic residues. Recreational fishers in Tasmania have a right to know where and when salmon farms are putting florfenicol into their waters. Why is your government still refusing to provide proper public information to people? It’s not available to anybody at boat ramps. There are no QR codes for people to be able to get information in real time about where this is being used. We know salmon companies are using it now at many pens all across the place, but people don’t know when it’s safe to fish. Will you commit to making that information available to people now, especially before Christmas?
Mr ROCKLIFF – You’re right, it’s important to ensure that the community are informed, which is why there’s been very clear information from the Director of Public Health, Mr Veitch, around the safety of florfenicol. It’s used in other countries, as I’ve said today as well, and in terms of safety – to fish, to eat the fish, and to swim.
Dr WOODRUFF – You didn’t answer the question. Will you make that information ‑ why is it okay to look after international markets and not okay to look after Tasmanians? They just want information about what’s going on.
Mr ROCKLIFF – My understanding is that there is information.
Dr WOODRUFF – There’s actually not. There’s no local information – Sally Doyle, the mayor of the Huon Valley Council made that point very strongly. There is no information available. There’s still nothing on your department’s fishing web page. There’s nothing.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Alright. My understanding is that there are live maps around the information, as well. I’m happy to cross‑reference and see what information is available where the gaps are, Dr Woodruff, if you like. No‑one’s wanting to hide anything. We want this to be open and transparent and ensure that not only industry – and I talk of the rock lobster industry, the abalone industry you’ve raised as well – but also that the community have confidence as well. It’s very important.
Dr WOODRUFF – Thank you. Can you commit to sitting down with me and having that conversation or the appropriate person, not you, maybe.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Well, there are the appropriate authorities around these matters of public health –
Dr WOODRUFF – Yes, just to make sure we’ve actually –
Mr ROCKLIFF – the EPA and matters. I’m happy for you to list some concerns to me that you have and I’m happy to see how information can be best made available to the community. What is important is that the message from Public Health is that – safe to fish, safe to eat the fish and safe to swim.
Dr WOODRUFF – I have your Fishing Tas app open. It has zero information about florfenicol ‑ nothing. Absolutely no advice. Your government’s app to fishers in Tasmania about the rules; it has nothing on there. I can guarantee that the residents of Huon and the Channel do not have access to LISTmap, and that the LISTmap does not have the date that the antibiotic was dumped, and where. I guarantee you that.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Okay.
Dr WOODRUFF – Again, when commercial fishers are trying to catch and sell for the Christmas market, people will be asking them, ‘Does this fish have florfenicol residues in it?’ If it was within 21 days, they will have to say, ‘Maybe.’ Will you stop salmon companies dumping an antibiotic that will lock out commercial and rec fishers from those areas across the Christmas period?
Mr ROCKLIFF – Dr Woodruff, there’s a reason why we have relevant authorities in a range of areas with the expertise to make these decisions, so –
Dr WOODRUFF – You’re in charge, though. You said you’d put the industry on notice.
Mr ROCKLIFF – You’re the first –
Dr WOODRUFF – You’re in charge. This is an absolute catastrophe that’s unfolding here, and you can do something about it.
CHAIR – Dr Woodruff, can we hear the Premier’s answer, please?
Mr ROCKLIFF – There’s information on the Public Health website, the EPA website, NRE website, and through social media. The NRE has a frequently asked questions page as well. I’m sure you would appreciate, and at times you’ve criticised me, and perhaps other ministers, for intervening on certain decisions on whatever the case may be at the particular time. We have to let the science, and the authorities, with their evidence and data, regulate the industry. Industry is far more heavily regulated than it was 10 years ago. I don’t doubt there will be continuous improvement, and I speak to you regularly about that, as with Mr George as well. You’re quite right to raise these questions. I’m concerned about the impact on the export industry, I must say.
Dr WOODRUFF – Are you concerned about the impact on rec fishers, too?
Mr ROCKLIFF – I’m concerned about the information, the public narrative that you’re prosecuting when the public health –
Dr WOODRUFF – Hold on, it’s not me. Its Recfishtas, it’s TARFish, it’s everyone I speak to in the Huon at the shops, in the Channel. It’s not just me. We’re just here letting you know how people feel.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Thank you.
CHAIR – We will move on to –
Mr ROCKLIFF – I understand how people feel, and if there’s more information that we can provide the community, including industry and rec fishers, then I’m more than happy to investigate that and see what we can provide.
