Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
[10.06 a.m.]
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has just suspended the salmon industry’s permit to use the controversial antibiotic florfenicol in Tasmanian waters. It’s a vindication of the huge concerns raised from the outset by local communities, commercial and recreational fishers. Your own agencies also cautioned about the risks of this antibiotic on the environment, and our wild export industries were ignored. It shows your government’s failure to stand up to multinational salmon corporations. You gave your full support for the industry’s application of this damaging antibiotic and wouldn’t stand up for our local crayfish and abalone fishers. Will you act to make sure florfenicol won’t be used again in Tasmanian waters and instead require the industry to properly manage disease in their pens by destocking?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for the question. I support the wild fishery. I support farm aquaculture as well. Very clearly, all can coexist through a strong regulatory environment. We are very strong advocates for the wild fishery and the export opportunities that present them. Our minister for Trade, the Deputy Premier, is a strong advocate, as are all our team, including our minister for Primary Industries. We are consulting regularly, ensuring that we’re opening up potentially new markets, but also strengthening existing markets when it comes to abalone and rock lobster. We’ve long fought for the return of the rock lobster entry into China because we know how decimated the rock lobster industry was throughout the pandemic.
The important matter here is that the APVMA is an independent national regulator for agricultural and veterinary chemicals. Its decision to suspend the florfenicol permit is a matter for that authority. We respect the role of the regulator in safeguarding environmental standards and ensuring confidence in Australia’s seafood industries. The APVMA has previously approved the use of florfenicol, and salmon companies have used it in accordance with that permit to support animal welfare.
It is my understanding that the salmon industry is proposing to prepare a market risk assessment and management plan in collaboration with other fisheries industries with a view to applying for a new permit. We are supportive of that collaborative approach when it comes to our aquaculture industries and wild fisheries all utilising such an essential and valuable resource for not only jobs and the growth of industry, but also our Tasmanian brand. It’s critical they work together in order to protect markets and provide assurance to other wild fisheries.
Supplementary Question
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Dr WOODRUFF – My question was about whether the Premier will make sure florfenicol is not used again in Tasmanian waters. You talked about having the need for having strong regulations so that industries can coexist together. There is a backdoor loophole that might allow the salmon industry to use florfenicol in an off‑label way. Will you close that loophole and make sure that they can’t use florfenicol off‑label in Tasmania?
Mr ROCKLIFF – I thank the honourable member for her question. Of course, I will be guided by the independent regulator, the national regulator.
Dr Woodruff – They’ve said it’s up to Tasmania. It’s out of their jurisdiction. It’s Tasmanian law.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Thank you. I will be guided also by the science, and I am ‑
Dr Woodruff – The science is ‑
The SPEAKER – Order. Dr Woodruff, you have an opportunity for more questions. I ask that the Premier be heard, please.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I am indeed very confident that the salmon industry takes its responsibilities for resolving the market access and market risks to wild catch fisheries very seriously. We all understand the need to value and the resource of our waters around this beautiful island and, of course, no one has greater ownership of those waters than the Tasmanian people. It has to be respected by all wild fisheries and agricultural companies as well. I am confident that they will be respectful and, indeed, measured.
The SPEAKER – The Premier’s time has expired.
