Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
[10.23 a.m.]
Right now, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is considering whether to suspend the permit for florfenicol in Tasmania’s south-east waters. Levels of the antibiotic are being found in critical trade export species like crayfish and abalone up to 10 kilometres away from salmon farms. Our wild-caught fisheries are being brought to a standstill by the salmon industry and its relentless pursuit of its profit.
Throughout all of this, your government has unabashedly supported the industry and its use of this controversial antibiotic. You’ve had no regard for the communities, industries and environments it’s devastating. A year ago today, Premier, you promised to put the Tasmanian salmon industry on notice. Will you finally make good of that promise and stand up to the salmon companies and withdraw your government’s support for florfenicol?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for the question. I remember the statements that I clearly made and I met them. It’s very evident. I’m very pleased with the commitment about supporting the study into the salmon industry and the announcement more recently of the contributors to that study. I thank members of this parliament who were consulted. I pay tribute to our minister for Primary Industries in navigating a very challenging path when it comes to supporting the salmon industry and the sector, animal welfare, in that sense, but also supporting our wild fisheries. We recognise well the sensitivity of the markets when it comes to our rock lobster and our abalone as well; well realised simply because of the challenges that the rock lobster industry, in particular, felt through the times of the pandemic and the stopping of exports of our rock lobster into China, which was a very challenging time. We worked hard with representatives of NRE and others at the time in collaboration and cooperation with the minister, Don Farrell as well, who has led key negotiations into opening up these markets. I was very pleased to work with Don to be able to secure open access once again to the Chinese market.
Dr WOODRUFF – Point of Order, honourable Speaker, Standing Order 45, relevance. The question was about florfenicol and the government’s support for florfenicol and withdrawing that.
The SPEAKER – I draw the Premier in relevance to the question.
Mr ROCKLIFF – The Australian Pesticides and the Veterinary Medicines Authority, a Commonwealth agency, has announced a proposal to suspend the current permit for florfenicol used in salmon aquaculture. This is a matter for the independent federal regulator and the permit holder, Abbey Laboratories.
I note that information has been provided to the APVMA in regard to past permit applications and that monitoring data was provided to the APVMA at its request. However, in regard to its proposed suspension of the permit, I can advise that the Tasmanian government has not made a submission. Decisions regarding antibiotic approvals are subject to federal oversight and the review of the permit is appropriately a matter between the APVMA and the permit holder.
The SPEAKER – The Premier’s time has expired.
Dr Woodruff – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Dr WOODRUFF – The Premier mentioned his concerns for the rock lobster and abalone fisheries numbers of times through that response. The Premier has never made a public statement expressing the concerns of the impact of florfenicol on those industries and just mentioned that florfenicol is something that you cannot make a submission about to the APVMA. However, you made a submission in support of it in the first place: will you withdraw that support, because it is damaging our wild catch industries?
The SPEAKER – The honourable member’s time has expired. Honourable Premier.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I appreciate where the Tasmanian Greens are coming from with this perspective. However, it is such a sensitive matter in terms of access to markets, the livelihoods of those within the rock lobster industry and the abalone industry. It is so sensitive. The authorities will be guided by the science. We put our trust in the scientists when it comes to these matters. There are animal welfare concerns. It is very sensitive in terms of animal welfare, salmon production and jobs in regional areas, and access to markets as well
Dr Woodruff – We 100 per cent agree. It’s a disaster that you’ve created.
The SPEAKER – Dr Woodruff, I don’t want to have to start issuing warnings.
Mr ROCKLIFF – These need to be sensitively handled.
The SPEAKER – The honourable Premier’s time has expired.
