The Greens have condemned Anthony Albanese for an insensitive and vacuous media stunt in lutruwita/Tasmania today.
Greens senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson said:
“The ancient Maugean skate is on the brink of extinction largely due to Atlantic salmon farming in the skate’s last remaining home: Macquarie Harbour.
“Yet the PM swung into town today to stand with salmon industry representatives to announce…nothing?!
“This was an incredibly insensitive and vacuous media stunt from our PM, especially in the same week it was announced half the Maugean skates in a captive breeding program aimed to save the species from extinction have died.
“Foreign-owned Atlantic salmon companies operating in Tassie have captured our federal and state governments.
“The PM made a political decision today to show Labor’s true colours and priorities are with the salmon industry.
“Tasmanians are sick of listening to tired rhetoric around jobs and growth at the expense of our unique and precious native wildlife. There’s only so long politicians can choose to prioritise the profits of big businesses over the survival of an entire species.”