The Tasmanian Greens have announced plans to establish a “truly independent” Environment Protection Authority following what they describe as a summer of pollution from the salmon industry.
Leader Rosalie Woodruff said the current EPA, which she claims has been weakened in recent years, failed to prevent a recent mass salmon mortality event in Tasmania’s south.
“This summer Tasmanians watched in shock as beaches in the south were covered in disgusting chunks of diseased salmon,” Woodruff said.
“Millions of kilograms of dead salmon were pumped out of fish farms and live salmon loaded into bins.”
She blamed the Liberal government for keeping the regulator “on a tight leash”.
“Unless action is taken, last summer’s mass marine harm could become the norm as our waters continue to warm,” Woodruff said.
“A truly independent EPA would review salmon farming corporations’ leases, licenses and conditions to ensure they favour the environment, not the fish farming multinationals.”
But Premier Jeremy Rockliff has rejected the Greens’ claims, insisting the EPA is already “fully independent and well resourced”.
“I know it is because I’ve been part of a government that has strengthened the independence of the EPA over the course of the last 10 years,” he said.
“Right now it is fully independent and we’ve been proud of being able to ensure that we’ve got the balance right where we are supporting our key industries around Tasmania.”
