Bipartisan support for union's rally backing Tasmanian salmon industry
Updated
A union-led rally backing Tasmania's salmon industry and its plans to expand along the east coast has drawn bipartisan support from politicians.
About 150 people gathered on Parliament House lawns in Hobart to fight back against an advertising campaign opposing the expansion.
The crowd of salmon workers and industry members also included senior Liberal and Labor MPs.
The rally was organised by the Australian Workers Union (AWU) and included a personal video message from Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.
AWU national secretary Daniel Walton told the crowd "environmental extremists" were trying to shut the industry down.
Lobby group Let's Grow Tasmania's Future, backed by millionaire environmentalist Graeme Wood, launched an advertising campaign in December opposing a plans by Tassal to farm at Okehampton Bay, near Triabunna.
The commercial features a fisherman defecating off the side of a boat, and states: "Farming 800,000 salmon in Okehampton Bay is about the same as 10,000 people taking a dump in the bay every day."
"There's been quite a bit of commentary unfortunately … gone to the lengths of showing ads with people defecating off sides of boats," Mr Walton said.
"A completely false representation and really fraudulent."
Shades of forestry wars: Minister
Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff, who was among the crowd, agreed some green groups wanted to shut down salmon farming.
"You saw what happened to the forest industry where we did have desire from elements of the environmental movement that wanted to shut down the forest industry," he said.
"Yes, there are people who want the industry shut down because that suits their political agenda."
Laura Kelly from Environment Tasmania (ET), who also attended, rejected the suggestion.
"To start talking in culture war language, to start talking about 'greenies versus jobs versus industry', I don't think it's good for the state," she said.
She defended the advertising campaign, arguing it was not against salmon farming in general.
"What they were trying to communicate is how bad it is to put 920 tonnes of salmon poo into an area that doesn't flush," Ms Kelly said.
Community 'desperate for jobs'
Tassal processing worker Phillip Butler criticised those opposed to his employer's plans.
"[It is] frustrating, yes, not a good look towards our company," he said.
"Our kids are most likely going to be brought up around salmon, we just need our jobs."
Another Tassal worker, Kirk Jackson who grew up at Triabunna, said the community was desperate for the potential employment.
"Look at the POMs [oyster disease] that's going through, it's put a scare on everybody, we definitely need something up there," he said.
He said the debate about the expansion was becoming too heated.
"Just a lot of stuff has been thrown around without people actually knowing what's going on," he said.
The expansion plan is being assessed by a Marine Farming Planning Review panel, which will brief the Environment Protection Authority and the department in the coming weeks.
Topics: fishing-aquaculture, government-and-politics, tas
First posted
