Environmental groups turn fire on Albanese government over salmon law change.
Australia’s leading environmental organisations have suspended their campaign against nuclear energy to launch a coordinated advertising blitz targeting the Albanese government’s proposed legislative change to protect the salmon farming industry, according to The Guardian.
The proposed amendment to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act would prevent an ongoing legal challenge against salmon farming in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour, home to the critically endangered Maugean skate. The move follows lobbying from industry stakeholders, Tasmanian Labor MPs, and the state Liberal government.
Environmental groups including Greenpeace, WWF Australia, and the Australian Conservation Foundation have reacted strongly, with one campaigner describing the government’s approach as “apoplectic” and a “death warrant” for the Maugean skate.
According to The Guardian, the groups have halted anti-nuclear campaigns and reallocated resources to target Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, accusing his government of prioritising industry over scientific advice and environmental protection.
The EPBC amendment would prevent third-party requests for reconsideration of past approvals in cases where developments have been operating for more than five years and are regulated at the state level. If passed, it would effectively block further federal scrutiny of fish farming’s environmental impact in the harbour.
The Maugean skate has been listed as endangered since 2004, with scientists warning in 2023 that oxygen depletion—linked to fish farming—is threatening the species’ survival. While a recent study suggests the population may have stabilised, researchers continue to recommend close monitoring and caution.
