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ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Is this the end of the debate over salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour?
Tasmania has a long list of emotive, nation-shaping environmental debates. From the Franklin Dam dispute that ultimately set a template for where responsibility sits for matters of national environmental significance, to the Gunns pulp mill battle that mobilised mass protest. Salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour is another on the list — this time, resulting in federal environmental reform that decreased the ability of the public to challenge past decisions. And, like the dam and the pulp mill, it's been coloured by protest and emotive argument. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had to speak over the sound of protest while visiting a Tassal facility in Tasmania's south. On Thursday, federal Environment Minister Murray Watt — while guaranteeing the future of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour — was met by a group of protesters in Devonport. Macquarie Harbour has a blend of remoteness, uniqueness and natural beauty. It's six times the size of Sydney Harbour, at the mouth of the Gordon River in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Macquarie Harbour is also the only place in the world where the endangered Maugean skate is found, a ray-like species that relies on dissolved oxygen reaching the bottom of the harbour. The skate needs a delicate and unique set of circumstances to survive. Salmon farming started in the harbour in the 1980s. In 2012, it received federal environmental approval to expand. By 2015, it had reached 20,000 tonnes of fish. When water quality issues became increasingly apparent, it was decided to wind back the stocking rates and set nitrogen limits. But reduced dissolved oxygen levels had been having an impact on the Maugean skate — exacerbated by extreme weather events in 2019 that caused two mass die-off events. In 2021, it was estimated that skate numbers had reduced by 47 per cent, and that the species could be one bad weather event away from potential extinction. This brought intense scrutiny and attention onto salmon farming practices in the harbour, driven by environmental groups like the Bob Brown Foundation (BBF). The federal Labor government promised no new extinctions — and environmental groups were driven to hold the government to this promise. Three groups — the BBF, Environmental Defenders Office and the Australia Institute — lodged requests with the government to reconsider the 2012 expansion approval. It resulted in the release of more information about the plight of the skate, including federal conservation advice that recommended further destocking of the salmon farms — which did not occur. The reconsideration had been ongoing since November 2023, but created uncertainty for the aquaculture industry on Tasmania's west coast — and, thereby, political pressure on Labor. In one of its last acts in parliament before the most recent federal election, Labor passed an amendment to environmental laws to effectively stop these kinds of reconsideration requests. The law states that if industries have been operating for five years since receiving federal environmental approval, and are regulated by the state, then they cannot be reconsidered. It applies to any industry — not just salmon farming. The laws appear to have solved Labor's political problem, in a big way. The party received a 15 per cent swing in Braddon — the largest of any seat at the federal election — under its staunchly pro-salmon candidate, Anne Urquhart. It was easily enough to win the seat back from the Liberals. In his letter to stakeholders, Mr Watt confirmed that the March law change was the basis for being able to reaffirm the 2012 salmon farming decision. He said he had, therefore, followed the law. "Every decision we make when it comes to environmental approvals is in compliance with the law," Mr Watt said. "It's no secret that the government amended the legislation prior to the last election to outline a path to deal with reconsiderations, and we've now applied the law. Industry body Salmon Tasmania said the decision provided "economic stability" for the west coast region, and pointed to research that suggested Maugean skate numbers had stabilised after a decade of decline. An oxygenation trial — partly funded by the federal government — is continuing. It involves pumping dissolved oxygen into the harbour's depths, which the industry and government both believe can be a sustainable option. The federal government is also helping to fund an insurance population of Maugean skate. The decision came one week before a BBF legal challenge to the law change was due to be heard in the Federal Court. The BBF is now considering its legal options, but believes the timing of the decision is intended to prevent departmental information from entering the public domain. BBF campaigner Alistair Allan said the process had resulted in weakened environmental laws for all endangered species. "We will be challenging this law, because we have to make sure that corporations are not the ones that get to decide what happens to Australia's environment," he said. "Australia's laws are already atrociously weak. "We have an animal here that was on the list, it was a priority species to be protected, and straight away it was condemned by the Albanese government." There are 11 salmon licences in Macquarie Harbour that have been able to continue throughout the reconsideration process. Fish biomass in the harbour is currently well below the peak from 2015, while the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has introduced new regulatory functions, such as nitrogen limits. The law change effectively leaves regulation to the state-based EPA for the foreseeable future. But it's unlikely to be the last Australians hear of the endangered Maugean skate, with studies continuing to point to a need for even further studies and data. These would fully examine whether salmon farming can truly coexist with the skate, if oxygenation is a genuine long-term solution and if there is a stocking level or management options for fish farms that can ensure the skate avoids extinction — should severe weather events hit again.
The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
Matthew Talbot's Dune Beach House anti-Semitic posts spark Hugo Boss probe
The Australian Business Network The word 'finsta' is a bit of Gen Z slang, short for 'fake Instagram', and it describes a secondary, private Instagram account that might be used for posting something indecorous, maybe provocative or sexy, or toxically anti-Semitic. We mention it because this week the Herald Sun published a story on Instagram with a headline about a Hamas sympathiser, Mona Zahed, who was mistakenly granted an entertainment visa to come to Australia. Uproar followed, the visa was cancelled, and Zahed found herself unable to enter the country. People had strong views about these developments, including an account on Instagram belonging to a celebrated Airbnb in the suburb of Rye, on the Mornington Peninsula. Dune Beach House is the name of this Scandi-inspired 'sommerhus', and it's famous enough to have a following and feature in a couple of brand advertisements. It also received a warm write-up this year in the Herald Sun's real estate section. 'It has made nearly $100,000 in a year with Airbnb and photo shoots,' owner Matthew Talbot and his partner, Talal, told the paper in January. So well-regarded is this property that Talbot went on to set up an Instagram for its friends and fans. Then the house developed feelings of its own, apparently, which needed to be expressed online, and on the topic of Zahed and Hamas, it let loose with some very spiky opinions. 'The entire world supports the Palestinian resistance,' the beach house wrote to one user commenting on the Hun's Zahed post. 'What we should be doing is exiling anyone that supports Israel.' All the Jews, basically, plus the federal opposition, Nova Peris and actor Nate Buzz. And then this comment to another user: 'Exiling all Zios and Israeli supporters will keep our communities safe from terrorists, rape, racism and land theft,' which was followed up with: 'Or use gas.' Presumably that's a Zyklon B reference, and presumably this very dark remark was supposed to be posted on the 'finsta', the fake account, but someone messed up and did it all from the one repping the breezy, beloved beach house. But here's another twist: this rental game is just a side hustle for Talbot. His real job is regional head of construction and visual merchandising for Hugo Boss, the premium German apparel brand which supplied the Nazis with their uniforms, and whose founder was an active member of the party. The company's eager to get away from all that, which is why it apologised in 2011. Hugo Boss's global spokeswoman Carolin Westermann made sure to emphasise the beach house's comments 'certainly do not reflect the position of HUGO BOSS' and bear 'no official connection to HUGO BOSS as a company'. This is what companies often say when one of their employees behaves like an arschloch. Westermann added that the company 'stands against any such statements or form of discrimination' and that officials would be 'following up on the situation internally'. Those inquiries must have already been made with Talbot, because while he didn't respond to our questions his beach house account mysteriously disappeared from Instagram on Wednesday. Snapchat saves Australia from tariffs In a way, we all owe Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel a debt of gratitude, because he basically helped Australia dodge a monster tariff hike expected out of the US. Spiegel didn't do anything special, but he heroically kept Kevin Rudd very busy in July – too busy for our ambassador to engage with the tariff discussions taking place at the White House. Donald Trump certainly isn't wild about Kevin, probably because Kevin once called him a 'village idiot'. Rudd, it turns out, was busy lobbying for Spiegel to get a meeting with Communications Minister Anika Wells. We're not sure why, although Spiegel's wife is the very persuasive Miranda Kerr and it's possible she had a hand in this. Spiegel received his meeting, on July 30, and it was a virtual meeting attended with Wells and Snapchat's regional head of public policy, Ben Au. According to documents released on Wednesday, Rudd 'passed on Mr Spiegel's request to meet with the minister' to 'better understand the selection criteria' for the government's teenage social media ban being weighed at the moment. Snapchat's likely to be affected, and Wells herself was briefed that Spiegel was likely there to ask for an exemption. 'You are not making any decisions in this meeting,' a departmental note advised her. 'You are meeting to understand Snap's justification for why it is different from other social media services and warrants an exclusion.' The answer's obvious, isn't it? For indirectly saving our economy.
The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
PNG Prime Minister James Marape goes one better than Donald Trump in golf stakes
Think Donald Trump would be the last politician to create a golfing headline this year? Yeah, James Marape has just asked the commander-in-cheat, as he's dubbed by his harshest golf critics, to hold my beer. Professional golfing tournaments around the world have been laced with dubious and truly bizarre invitations over history, but there's another to be added to the list: Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister playing in the country's national open on Thursday. Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape competes at the PNG Open. Picture: Supplied To most Australian sports fans, Marape is the man who stood alongside Anthony Albanese and Peter V'landys to announce PNG's dream of its own NRL franchise had been realised. As part of the $600 million in funding from the Albanese government for the 19th licence, Marape promised his security pact would be tied to his neighbours in the Pacific, and not China. Now, it also appears he fancies playing a bit of golf too. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape in 2024. Picture: David Gray / AFP If you scrolled down far enough on the leaderboard for the Papua New Guinea Open being played in Port Moresby this week, the first event of the PGA Tour of Australasia's new season, there was a name which stood out: Hn James Marape (a). The 'a' stood for amateur, in case you weren't sure. But all you needed to do was look at his scorecard to realise why. Marape signed for a – how do we put this nicely? – 97. Twenty-five-over the card! He had a couple of pars, but there were also eight bogeys, seven doubles and a nasty triple. At least, and any average hacker will attest to this feat, he managed to scrape in under 100. Before you jump up and down about how a PM has shoehorned his way into a professional tournament, a couple of things to consider: Marape actually played in the tournament before in 2023 (missing the cut); he's using his profile to preach the opportunity his country is trying to give local players, including the weekend's PNG Women's Open; the field wasn't filled so every professional who entered the tournament was given a start; and there's already 20 local amateurs featuring in the event, so ample opportunity for some of the country's emerging talent. Then came the tournament invitation for Marape, who one-upped The Don by at least playing in an event for world rankings points. Prime Minister Marape now has one up on President Donald Trump. Picture: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin 'I just want to inform the country, this is our 50th (anniversary as a nation), and for the first time we've gone past a hundred professional golfers in our country,' Marape beamed after his round on Thursday, presumably not heading straight to the range to work on his swing. '(There's) 120, including seven female professionals who are coming in, participating on Saturday and Sunday. It's a step in the right direction. 'Sport does sell our country's image. Sport does inform the world who we are. And here you have professional golfers coming from right across the world to come in to play in Port Moresby. 'This morning, I was privileged that they gave me a run with last year's winner, William (Bruyeres), and they're all in the running for whoever comes out top on Sunday.' Said tournament director Graeme Scott: 'I believe there are discussions currently underway as to how the PGA of Australia can assist in the development of young players because it's very much our goal to have your aspiring professionals and young players coming to play on our Tour. 'I know in speaking to my own colleagues this morning, that was a crucial thing that we were trying to develop with Papua New Guinea, is that we can see a pathway for these players to come.' For the record, Victorian Joel Mitchell was the solo first round leader with a five-under 67 … just a lazy 30 shots ahead of a Prime Minister, who at least let's everyone watch him counting his score. Read related topics: Donald Trump
