The Albanese government's pledge to fund an oxygenation trial in Macquarie Harbour is nothing more than extinction funding for an industry that's driving the Maugean skate out of existence, the Greens say.
"This is the strongest signal yet that the government has no intention of protecting the Maugean skate from extinction by ending salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour," said Greens Senator for Tasmania Senator Nick McKim.
"This is a naked play by Labor to win Braddon by prioritising corporate profits over the survival of an ancient species."
"Labor is sitting back and managing the Maugean skate into extinction rather than saving it by ending salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour."
"This is simply corporate welfare for an industry that's destroying the last natural home of a critically endangered species'."
"We already know that poor water quality, caused directly by salmon farming, is the key threat to the Maugean skate's survival."
"This will make it impossible for Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to make an independent decision to save the skate by booting salmon farms out of Macquarie Harbour. Politics has triumphed over science yet again."
"Water quality trials, monitoring and captive breeding programs don't change the fact that salmon farming continues to destroy the Maugean skate's only natural habitat."
"The government's own pilot project into the oxygenation trial is not due to report for another twelve months. Senator Urquhart's claim that oxygenation is working well is pure claptrap."
"ATO data shows Tasmania's salmon farming corporations paid zero income tax last year, yet Labor is using public money to clean up their mess."
