Not my call
Salmon farming treads water, (Maugean) skating on thin ice
Salmon, farming
Politicians do one of three things:
The first is to identify problems that seek solutions. This one’s very straightforward: a simple fix of overcoming an obstacle. For example, replace ageing ferries with new ones (purely hypothetically).
The second is to identify solutions that fix future problems. Less straightforward, but it’s a way of looking at data and fixing something before it becomes a problem. For example, build docking infrastructure that can take bigger ferries.
Then there’s the third thing they do: nothing. Know when to just leave things alone. Where you don’t take a decision at all — instead, you delay, ignore, kick the can down the road or make it somebody else’s problem. Like the whole TasPorts and TT Line fiasco.
Well that’s exactly the route federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has taken around salmon and Macquarie Harbour. Decision delayed for 12 months:
The future of salmon farming in Tasmania‘s Macquarie Harbour remains in limbo, with a decision on whether to increase the threatened species listing of the Maugean skate delayed until after the federal election.
…The federal government was expected to receive advice on whether to change the skate’s status from endangered to critically endangered by tomorrow, but the Threatened Species Scientific Committee requested a time extension.
The committee now has until October 30, 2025 to make its recommendations.
The future of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour is still in question. The future of the Maugean skate is in limbo. By which time the next federal election is done and dusted, the minister will be in a new job — whether via ministerial reshuffle or a party in power — and, by then, maybe the problem sorts itself out.
Maybe the hope is the salmon industry collapses, the Maugean skate goes extinct and there’s another crisis on the horizon. How else would you explain no additional protection for industry, or for the skate, or for the West coast of Tasmania’s communities? Everyone just take a breather, we’ll see you in twelve months.
Politicians who put off making decisions because they are too hard are like new ferries that can’t dock in the existing harbour. Ineffective, and costly.