Maugean skate (Image from Greenpeace)
CANBERRA, 26 MARCH 2025 – As the Prime Minister’s bill to weaken environmental oversight of the salmon industry and push a species closer to extinction passes into legislation today, Greenpeace Australia Pacific has urged Labor to rebuild its shattered credibility on the environment by taking a strong climate and nature agenda into its Federal Election campaign.
“The passage of the EPBC Amendment legislation, which imperils the endangered Maugean skate, gives special treatment to the polluting salmon industry and sets a dangerous precedent of allowing corporations to avoid scrutiny, is a rock-bottom moment for a party that once promised ‘no new extinctions’,” said Glenn Walker, Head of Nature, Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
“This ill-conceived decision by the Prime Minister to rush through this legislation, which comes weeks after Labor broke its promise to deliver strong nature law reforms in this term of government, has dealt a massive blow to Labor’s credibility on the environment.
“Australians overwhelmingly love nature, and want to see our precious places and wildlife protected. A healthy environment and safe climate underpin many critical issues facing the community, including cost of living, health, jobs, and the economy.
“We deserve and demand a government that takes nature protection seriously—and urge Labor to take very seriously the task of rebuilding its shattered credibility on nature as it gears up for an imminent election campaign.
“At a bare minimum, this looks like a time-bound commitment to deliver strong nature law reforms and establish an independent Environmental Protection Authority within the first 12 months of government, if re-elected.
“We also want to see strong ocean protection commitments, including a promise to ratify the Global Oceans Treaty within the first 100 days of government, and championing ocean sanctuaries in nearby international waters, including as a priority the Tasman Sea.
“Labor is entering an election fight against a Coalition that has promised to fast-track fossil fuel approvals, impose expensive and dangerous nuclear technology on Australians, and defang our environmental laws further.
“Offering Australians an ambitious and credible plan to protect our beloved environment, wildlife, and communities will not only rebuild trust with Australians, it will bolster Labor’s legacy for generations to come.
Also from Greenpeace: Global Ocean Treaty two years on: Australia’s chance for international cooperation
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Wild salmon originate in freshwater rivers in the n. hemisphere. They migrate to great oceans in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans feeding and growing in size until they again travel thousands of miles to their native river as grown fish , to spawn again for a new generation. It's something of a miracle of nature.
My late husband was a salmon and trout fisherman. He liked the space quiet with nature, rivers and solitude of the hobby. He was an accomplished fly fisherman. However he returned any fish caught, back to the rivers- always. In particular, he thought the salmon was an amazing species- surviving commercial catching nets and making it back to a tiny Scottish rivers to reproduce.
These horrible salmon farms are an abomination.
I am disgusted that the Labor Government is condoning that this unnatural cruelty continues and also destroys natural native sea life with the pollution of water from the poor fish thrashing about in such unnatural confined spaces, fed food and antibiotics so they can be stuck on a plate.
Lovely, all true, desirable, achievable; now, back in waking reality..,Peter Duckwit-Futton the leader of the Hypocritical Threat party, with policies, on behalf of donors, of exploitation, ravaging, missed opportunities, possible gross profiteering for friends, is surely a greater threat than mild ALP incumbency, which is what we have. No More ravages of piles, pox, Morrison types, Duttonry, Angusagony, Joyce intoxication, LLeeeyyy disease, FatClivery, Rinehartpalsies, returns of Abbott analitches, (suppository sensitivity, of wisdom) etc. What do we want and can we get a little? Our best hope is a LITTLE sense, planning, openness, honesty, decency, luck.