A strong critic of Tasmania's salmon industry says the Liberal government has 'ambushed' those who supported it to remain in power, by 'dumping' the terms of reference of a promised review into fish farming 'without further consultation'.
An upcoming study into Tas mania's salmon industry will not include public consultation or make any recommendations, angered the state's progressive parliamentary crossbench. Premier Jeremy Rockliff promised the study in the aftermath of the July snap state election, before surviving another no-confidence vote in parliament.
But crossbenchers say the terms of reference for the study are a breach of trust.Independent Peter George says he has no plans to move another no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff, but says the government will find it more difficult to deal with the crossbench going forward.Progressive crossbenchers say they have lost trust in the Tasmanian government over the terms of reference for a promised study into the state's salmon industry.Mr Rockliff promised the study on August 17 while in discussions with crossbenchers after the election, which delivered a near-identical parliament, with one of the changes being the addition of anti-salmon farming independent Peter George.The terms of reference for the independent study include an analysis of the salmon industry's environment, social and economic impact, the regulatory framework, comparisons with other countries, and other production types, such as The wording was similar to the announcement by Mr Rockliff in August, but the terms of reference do not include public consultation or making recommendations, angering Mr George and the Tasmanian Greens.Mr George told ABC Radio Hobart that they were provided with draft terms of reference, but their concerns at that stage were ignored. "The government has ambushed us by dumping its terms of reference on us yesterday without further consultation," he said."His government has not yet learned it's working in minority government, and I think it will rue the day if it doesn't listen to the crossbench." He ruled out moving a no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff, and said there was an opportunity for Labor to work more closely with the crossbench in opposition.Huon Aquaculture's new chief executive officer has described the upcoming review of Tasmania's salmon industry as "unnecessary", saying that a pause on expansion would not stop the company's plans. The salmon study was one of three key promises made by Mr Rockliff in the post-election period, along with a ban on greyhound racing in 2029, and no longer making further native forest available for logging. Mr George and other crossbenchers then voted down a post-election motion of no-confidence in Mr Rockliff and confidence in then-Labor leader Dean Winter, which allowed Mr Rockliff to continue to govern."We'll be taking our concerns up with the premier," Dr Woodruff said. "We're very disappointed that at this first hurdle, he hasn't given the Greens and other members of the crossbench an opportunity to reflect back on the terms of reference before they made them public.Rosalie Woodruff says the premier has breached the trust of crossbenchers and minor parties, who declined to support Labor's bid to oust Mr Rockliff.The first phase of the study will take 12 months; there is also a moratorium on salmon farm expansion while the study is carried out. Primary Industries Minister Gavin Pearce said the study aimed to deliver "a balance between economic opportunity and environmental protection".Mr Rockliff's announcement in August was opposed by the salmon industry, with Huon Aquaculture raising concerns about how the industry was being "grossly politicised".People hold signs at a protest against salmon farming at Verona Sands beach in March, after a disease outbreak resulted in dead fish washing up around the coastline.A seal and 15 cormorants died in a Tasmanian salmon farm in the space of a week after becoming trapped inside, despite Tassal assurances that it would prevent wildlife interactions. Labor has repeatedly questioned Mr Rockliff in parliament over whether mortality issues in the industry had been overstated for political purposes. On August 14, Mr Rockliff called Mr George about a "new outbreak" in salmon pens, following on from the bacterial disease that caused mass mortality from February. Mr George disclosed this information on ABC Radio Hobart on August 15, and later that day, the government and regulators held a press conference to announce anDuring that press conference, the government avoided using the term "outbreak", but that the rickettsia bacteria remained present in pens at varying levels, including being endemic.Documents obtained under right to information laws show that the rolling seven-day average for deaths in a Huon Aquaculture pen was 0.2 per cent in 2025 — four times higher than in 2024. The letter in August — sent by chief veterinarian Deborah McSweyn to Huon Aquaculture — shows that 60 per cent of deaths were due to the rickettsia disease, compared with the "usual level" of 20 per cent. This had not been reported to the government because it had not reached the reporting level of 0.25 per cent level for three consecutive days.The chief executive of Salmon Tasmania says the decision to pause marine farming expansion is "shameless" and contradicts promises made by Premier Jeremy Rockliff in July. The letter also shows that the regulator received notification from Huon Aquaculture on August 4 that the company intended to start administering Florfenicol in a pen at Zuidpool Rock.The industry has since made an emergency use application with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to use Florfenicol, but the application is yet to be approved. In that time, the APVMA has upgraded salmon's status from a minor to a "major" animal species, which increases the time for antibiotic applications to be approved.The study into the salmon industry is the latest in a series of studies promised by Mr Rockliff in recent years while negotiating with crossbenchers.Those black, circular things floating in the water off the Tasmanian coastline? They are salmon farms. Here is how many there are — and who owns them., he promised mandatory CCTV in abattoirs and to have the proposed Macquarie Point stadium assessed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission . The TPC concluded its work last month, and the government rejected its recommendation not to proceed with the stadium. In the next parliament, Mr Rockliff promised then-Jacqui Lambie Network MPs a review of the Integrity Commission, the right information system, and the state's finances. The Integrity Commission review did not go ahead, the RTI review was handed down last month with a government response pending, and recommendations from Saul Eslake's review of the state's finances were rejected by the government.
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