Tasmanian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson has heckled Prime Minister Anthony Albanese outside Parliament House over legislation affecting the endangered Maugean skate.
Whish-Wilson yelled at the Prime Minister during a media appearance this morning, expressing his anger over the salmon-saving Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill.
“Save the skate, Prime Minister. Not good enough. Pushing the species to the brink of extinction underneath the cover of a budget,” Whish-Wilson shouted at Albanese.
“You’re a pack of mongrels.”
The controversial bill, expected to pass today, has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups, who argue it only benefits the salmon industry at the expense of the environment.
“I gave the Prime Minister an earful this morning. Couldn’t help myself. I’m just so angry and disgusted and I know many of you are too,” Whish-Wilson later posted online.
“Sometimes you’ve got to break with protocol and call things out for what they are.”
The Albanese government has previously committed to supporting the continuation of salmon farming in Tasmania, which environmental advocates argue threatens the skate’s Macquarie Harbour habitat.
Whish-Wilson described the legislation as “one of the lowest dogs-acts” he has seen in his time in Parliament.
