The Prime Minister's announcement is welcomed by the Tasmanian Government, but begs the question, why didn't he do it earlier?
Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Eric Abetz, said the Prime Minister's Tasmania visit was the equivalent of a photo opp.
"This is nothing but smoke and mirrors from a desperate Federal Labor Government trying to clear barnacles on the eve of a Federal election," Minister Abetz said.
"If the Prime Minister was serious about this, he would recall Parliament and pass the legislation to protect these Tasmanian jobs before an election.
"But we know this won't happen - just this week Senator Urquhart stated that Minister Plibersek's reconsideration needs to 'go back to the drawing board'.
"This is an acknowledgement that there is no reason for the Federal Labor Government to be sitting on this.
"The commitment to provide additional funding for the Maugean skate breeding program is welcome but Tasmanians must not forget, if Labor do a deal with the Greens to form Government then salmon in Macquarie Harbour is on the chopping block.
"This is cheap politicking using real families and real communities across Tasmania as pawns to shore up inner-city votes.
"It is disgraceful, and we will not rest until our salmon jobs are protected by law."
