Dr WOODRUFF (Franklin – Leader of the Greens) – Honourable Speaker, I rise tonight to reflect on the stinky salmon summer this island has endured and there is no sign it is over. Fetid fish carcasses and unidentifiable chunks of dead salmon-something have washed up on beaches. We have seen horrifying images of thousands upon thousands of dead fish floating in pens, being funnelled out and ultimately dumped in landfill container by container.
The mass salmon deaths are a result of climate heating and packed pens of disease-ridden fish, the EPA told us. Salmon company vets have described the cause of the mortality event as multifactorial. We could not agree more.
It is a toxic mix of greed, cronyism, political donations and privatisation. That, together with the climate crisis, may mean the new normal for Tasmania’s summer, a horrifying thought. Tasmanian should be able to go for a dip with our kids, cast a line or walk our dogs on our favourite beach. As usual, under the major parties, communities come last when they are at odds with corporate mates.
These are public waters. It is the public paying the price, but they are not taking it this time. It is the Neighbours of Fishfarming that delivered the rotting salmon to the EPA and demanded an investigation.
The community is not buying big salmon’s BS that there is nothing to worry about – comparing stinking chunks of salmon fat with fish oil like the stuff you buy at the chemist. They are forming local groups and alliances to defend their coastlines. They are rallying on beaches like in Carlton Beach and Dodgers Ferry, dressed in red, demanding change.
It is not just on salmon. In the north and north-east, they are also stirring on forests. The forests that were reserved under the TFA are now on the chopping block again under the Minister, Mr Abetz. I had the pleasure of visiting some of those forests over the summer break and they are breathtaking. Towering eucalyptus, massive ferns, trickling streams full of life, a multitude of animals, threatened or otherwise.
This is what the Liberals call wood banks. Yes, in a climate crisis, they call them wood banks and I cannot mention forestry without reflecting on FT’s illegal logging. In 2013, hectares were logged and burned, but it was not FT’s land, it was Crown land. When the government talks about illegal activity in our forest, who is really the criminal? And just last week a logging contractor was found guilty of assault on a peaceful protester. I have lost count of how many times the Liberals, cheered on by their alleged opposition, made unfounded allegations about conservationists. They demanded apologies and condemnation from the Greens. Yet, when it comes to violence in our forests, we know it is not the Green movement. We are proudly committed to nonviolent action. Every time it has been the loggers. Maybe it is your turn, Premier, minister Abetz, to condemn the contractors found guilty of assault last week.
Finally, it is on that note, that I want to reflect on yesterday’s protest on Parliament House ‑ the people’s House. As you said in this place yesterday, those individuals will be investigated for any laws they may have broken – or any slate. It should not take people getting on this building’s roof to be heard by the decision makers inside. We have an obligation to the people of Tasmania and to future generations and we should all be on a bound to defend democracy. After all, we know that democracy is fragile –
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – Order, I will hear the member in silence. I do not want to miss a word of this.
Dr WOODRUFF – more so than this building itself, even. We know the erosion of rights, scrutiny and accountability is much more damaging than some boots on sandstone.
As for the planet, the Greens will always stand with its defenders. Whether it is on the beach at Dodges Ferry or Verona Sands, in the forests near Lilydale or Saint Mary’s, or at Parliament House.
We will not stand in silence and let Lutruwita to be logged, burned, privatised or poisoned.
