Tasmania’s peak salmon body has declared the federal election results a strong endorsement for the sector, with all but one of the five candidates voted in championing the sector.
“The federal election results provide a clear mandate for a strong future of the Tasmanian salmon industry,” Salmon Tasmania CEO Luke Martin said following Labor’s victories.
“Tasmanians voted with force for candidates who wholeheartedly back the salmon industry and we greatly appreciate this support.”
“This is especially clear in Braddon where Macquarie Harbour aquaculture was a hot-topic and salmon champion Anne Urquhart has had a resounding win.”
The industry faced significant opposition during the campaign, particularly from independent candidate Peter George, who ran on an anti-salmon platform in Franklin.
Despite losing to Labor’s Julie Collins, George claimed victory in coastal communities where salmon farming operates.
“I am so glad I stood with so many Tasmanians against multinationals who are locking up our seas and destroying our way of life,” he said on Sunday.
“To all those Labor and Liberal politicians who think they can just serve foreign owned multinationals rather than Tasmania, we are coming for your seats.”
Collins downplayed the significance of George’s showing, framing salmon industry regulation as primarily a state issue.
“The result that we saw in Franklin and indeed statewide is that the Tasmanian people understand that the management and the regulation of the industry is primarily a Tasmanian state government issue,” she said.
“I think Tasmanians also understand that you can have a sustainable industry and strong environmental laws and protections and that’s what the majority of Tasmanians want.”
Martin said the salmon industry thanked Labor and Liberal candidates who supported them throughout the campaign.
“Our industry has been subjected to an unprecedented attack by cashed-up interstate and foreign activists supporting anti-salmon candidates,” he said.
“Their lies, rallies and propaganda have failed.”
