A Dutton Coalition Government will act decisively to protect Tasmania's vital salmon industry by banning imports of Chilean salmon products into Australia.
Shadow Environment, Fisheries and Forestry Minister, Jonno Duniam, said that a Dutton Coalition Government would overturn the Albanese Government's move to allow Chilean salmon imports, in the interests of Australia's salmon industry and the environment.
"It is a slap in the face to Tasmania's salmon workers and the industry that the Albanese Labor Government has allowed the importation of Chilean salmon products," Senator Duniam said.
"These products pose a very real threat to our salmon industry and the wider natural environment, risking the introduction of new salmon diseases into the state.
"We all saw what happened this summer when a new, naturally occurring disease struck salmon farmers in the south. Just imagine the damage that an imported disease could do, not just to our salmon industry, but also potentially to the wider natural environment."
Senator Duniam said the ban would be implemented immediately upon the election of a Dutton Coalition Government.
"The Albanese Labor Government has treated Tasmania's salmon industry and their workers with disdain," Senator Duniam said.
"First, they left the West Coast community twisting in the wind for 18 months, by threatening to close the local salmon industry down at the behest of green groups.
"Then, Minister Julie Collins inexplicably decided to allow the importation of potentially disease-ridden Chilean salmon in Australia.
"Only the Coalition can be trusted to protect and stand up for Tasmania's salmon industry, and the 5,000 jobs and regional communities it supports."
