Today I’ve told salmon workers on the northwest coast that Tasmanian Labor has their back.
Tasmanian Labor was born on the west coast. We have represented workers there for more than 100 years and we won’t stop.
The salmon farming issue is fundamentally about people. Tasmanian Labor will do everything we can to support the continuation of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.
The Australian Labor Government’s commitment of $28 million towards this is a very positive contribution and it's thanks to the enormous efforts of Senator Urquhart that the money has been secured.
But it is not good enough that a decision still has not been made and that these jobs remain uncertain. Tasmanian Labor does not support any further delays and nor would we support any adverse decision that impacts the lives of workers or their families.
Tasmania has successfully regulated salmon production for the past 40 years. Every year the companies, in partnership with regulators, continue to innovate and improve its practices. Producers from all over the world come and see how we run production and regulation in this state.
We do not need a federal minister coming over the top of a successful state regulatory system.
Over the course of the last 40 years, the salmon industry has been the most successful industry in Tasmania, supporting thousands of Tasmanian families. Labor always had the backs of these workers and there will be no stronger supporter of our salmon industry than the Tasmanian Labor Party while I am the leader.
During the year I took a delegation of Tasmanians to Canberra to meet with Minister Plibersek, which is something the government has not done. I organised a meeting with the Prime Minister for the delegation and my deputy leader and member for Braddon, Anita Dow.
I took the industry to see Minister Plibersek so they could explain directly to her what this decision will mean to them. The one thing that is certain is that if aquaculture is ended in Macquarie Harbour, all those jobs will go. The town of Strahan will struggle, the school and that community with suffer.
I didn’t call a press conference. I didn’t play politics. I just went to outline the facts. But now is the time to push harder and I won’t be backing down.
The harbour is in the best health it's been in for years. Oxygen levels are rising and the people who work in and regulate the industry every day do not need people from Canberra coming down and telling them what to do.
The Minister should make the right decision as quickly as possible.
Dean Winter MP
Labor Leader
Shadow Minister for Jobs, Workplace Relations & Safety
