Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Environment spokesperson
Tassal’s statement that they will go full-steam ahead with their expansion into Okehampton Bay, despite the government's review, confirms the worst of the East Coast community’s concerns.
This proves that the Minister for Primary Industries has created a faux review process. It was clearly an industry stitch-up to make the government look like they’re tough regulators.
It’s now clear the Panel’s review won't assess whether salmon farming is suitable to occur in Okehampton Bay. Instead, it will only consider what sort of monitoring activities, if any, the company needs to change from their original development plan.
Minister Rockliff claims the Marine Farming Review Panel’s assessment will “ensure we take the community with us” as the industry grows to double the current size by 2030. He can’t keep the community on side if he won't direct a credible review process for Oakhampton Bay.
The people of the East Coast need to know who is in charge here - the government or the industry?
Minister Rockliff has said the Tasmanian salmon industry environmental standards are second to none worldwide. If that’s the case, he should direct Tassal to put the project on hold until the Panel’s review is completed in February 2017.