Expansion of Tasmania's salmon industry paused for major review
The Tasmanian government on Sunday announced it will conduct an independent study of the industry.
The study is expected to ascertain whether environmental standards and legislation need to be strengthened or changed as well as international methods of fish-farming.
Disease and antibiotic use are also expected to be on the agenda as the state battles the bacteria Piscirickettsia salmonis, with more than 3 million salmon dying from the disease last summer, according to the Bob Brown Foundation.
The marine expansion of the industry will be paused while the study is carried out.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the government was 'on the side of Tasmanians' and expected to see practical reforms and regulations to protect the environment and the industry.
'To support the salmon industry to meet its social license in line with contemporary environmental expectations, we will deliver an independent study of the industry,' Mr Rockliff said.
'I said clearly, after the mass mortality event of last summer, the industry is on notice.
'I do not resile from that. We must always seek to strike a balance between sustainable primary industries and our unique natural environments in which they operate.'
An independent off-island specialist will be brought in to conduct the study.
Salmon Tasmania chief executive officer John Whittington accused state premier Jeremy Rockliff of 'strangling growth' and breaking commitments to appease the Greens and Independents.
'The Premier has gone back on his word and commitments and shamefully let down every salmon worker, their families, and communities across the state,' Mr Whittington said in a statement on Sunday.
'The Premier has let down the salmon aquaculture industry; strangling growth, guaranteeing a whole host of new red tape, and significantly undermining confidence and investment.'
Mr Whittington said Tasmanian industries, workers, and their families deserved better than being treated like a 'political plaything that is traded away for power'.
'This decision abandons regional Tasmania and sends a dangerous message to any business considering investing in our state,' he said.
However Mr Rockliff stood by his decision on Sunday morning, telling reporters the industry should 'embrace' the move.
'This is not something that the industry should fear, it's actually something that the industry should embrace, and embrace the fact that we are wanting to support the industry become better,' he said.
'Better when it comes to the environment … to supporting Tasmania and all the regional Tasmanians and all the jobs that they employ.'
The decision comes just days after Minister for Primary Industries and Water Gavin Pearce on Friday stated an antibiotic, Florfenicol, was being considered by the industry and experts among other options to combat Piscirickettsia salmonis.
However, Mr Pearce noted it hasn't been used in large amounts in Australia.
'A range of options are being considered by industry and experts to deal with Piscirickettsia salmonis, including vaccine development, adjusting production strategies and improving fish health surveillance,' Mr Pearce said.
'Industry has also advised of an alternative antibiotic, Florfenicol, that it wants to use … Our independent EPA and chief veterinary officer will play an important role in providing advice to government and to industry on its use.'
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The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Labor rebounds to leads in Victorian and Queensland Resolve polls
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In additional questions, respondents supported a legislated right to work from home at least two days a week by 64-17 if an employee's job allows this. By 66-13, respondents supported a four-day week if an employee did the same work they would have over five days. Victorian and Queensland state Resolve polls both show Labor rebounding from big deficits to now lead. In Tasmania, Josh Willie from the left faction replaces Dean Winter as Labor leader. A Victorian state Resolve poll for The Age, conducted with the federal July and August Resolve polls from a sample more than 1,000, gave the Coalition 33% of the primary vote (down eight since March), Labor 32% (up eight), the Greens 12% (down two), independents 9% (down five) and others 13% (up six). Resolve doesn't usually give a two-party estimate for its state polls, but The Poll Bludger estimated a Labor lead by about 53-47. Labor had been far behind in March. Despite the big gain for Labor on voting intentions, Liberal leader Brad Battin led Labor incumbent Jacinta Allan by 32-25 as preferred premier (36-23 in March). This measure normally favours the incumbent more than voting intentions. Battin's lead may indicate that Labor's recovery is mostly due to the federal election result. The Age's article said Labor's primary vote was 30% in July, before Allan announced her working from home policy, and it improved to 34% in August. A national Resolve poll had voters supporting working from home at least two days a week by 64-17. Allan's net likeability surged 11 points, but is still at -21. This poll agrees with late June Newspoll and Redbridge polls in giving Labor a lead in Victoria. The next Victorian state election is not due until November 2026. While Labor has rebounded, they could fall back if voters focus more on state issues or if federal Labor's popularity subsides. By the next election, Labor will have governed Victoria for the last 12 years, and 23 of the last 27 years, so the Liberals should benefit from an "it's time" factor. However, the Liberals have their own problems with internal divisions. A Queensland state Resolve poll for The Brisbane Times, conducted in July and August from a sample of 869, gave the Liberal National Party (LNP) 34% of the primary vote (down 11 since the January to April Resolve poll), Labor 32% (up ten), the Greens 10% (down two), One Nation 8% (steady), independents 8% (up one) and others 7% (up one). Analyst Kevin Bonham estimated there would be a very narrow Labor lead after preferences. LNP premier David Crisafulli's net likeability was up two points to +20, as this was question last asked before the LNP won the October 2024 election. Labor leader Steven Miles, who was premier before the election, improved his net likeability 12 points to -1. Crisafulli led by 40-25 as preferred premier (44-22 in January to April). Unlike Victoria, other recent Queensland polls disagree with Resolve. Early July Queensland polls from Redbridge and DemosAU gave the LNP a 55-45 or 56-44 lead. On Tuesday, Labor failed to gain support for its no-confidence motion in the Tasmanian Liberal government from any non-Labor MP, despite the five Greens and four of six others being left-leaning. With Labor losing the July 19 election, the party leadership was spilled. On Wednesday, Josh Willie from the left faction replaced Dean Winter as Tasmanian Labor leader after a long meeting of Labor's 10 state MPs. Officially this was unanimous to avoid a membership ballot, with Winter stepping aside. The ABC said many MPs wanted Winter to remain leader, but party members would have likely strongly favoured Willie. If Labor wants to return to government soon, Willie will need to repair Labor's relationship with the Greens and left-leaning independents. Labor's last period in government finished in 2014. I previously covered the August 11-16 federal Resolve poll that gave Labor a 59-41 lead. In additional questions, respondents supported a legislated right to work from home at least two days a week by 64-17 if an employee's job allows this. By 66-13, respondents supported a four-day week if an employee did the same work they would have over five days. Victorian and Queensland state Resolve polls both show Labor rebounding from big deficits to now lead. In Tasmania, Josh Willie from the left faction replaces Dean Winter as Labor leader. A Victorian state Resolve poll for The Age, conducted with the federal July and August Resolve polls from a sample more than 1,000, gave the Coalition 33% of the primary vote (down eight since March), Labor 32% (up eight), the Greens 12% (down two), independents 9% (down five) and others 13% (up six). Resolve doesn't usually give a two-party estimate for its state polls, but The Poll Bludger estimated a Labor lead by about 53-47. Labor had been far behind in March. Despite the big gain for Labor on voting intentions, Liberal leader Brad Battin led Labor incumbent Jacinta Allan by 32-25 as preferred premier (36-23 in March). This measure normally favours the incumbent more than voting intentions. Battin's lead may indicate that Labor's recovery is mostly due to the federal election result. The Age's article said Labor's primary vote was 30% in July, before Allan announced her working from home policy, and it improved to 34% in August. A national Resolve poll had voters supporting working from home at least two days a week by 64-17. Allan's net likeability surged 11 points, but is still at -21. This poll agrees with late June Newspoll and Redbridge polls in giving Labor a lead in Victoria. The next Victorian state election is not due until November 2026. While Labor has rebounded, they could fall back if voters focus more on state issues or if federal Labor's popularity subsides. By the next election, Labor will have governed Victoria for the last 12 years, and 23 of the last 27 years, so the Liberals should benefit from an "it's time" factor. However, the Liberals have their own problems with internal divisions. A Queensland state Resolve poll for The Brisbane Times, conducted in July and August from a sample of 869, gave the Liberal National Party (LNP) 34% of the primary vote (down 11 since the January to April Resolve poll), Labor 32% (up ten), the Greens 10% (down two), One Nation 8% (steady), independents 8% (up one) and others 7% (up one). Analyst Kevin Bonham estimated there would be a very narrow Labor lead after preferences. LNP premier David Crisafulli's net likeability was up two points to +20, as this was question last asked before the LNP won the October 2024 election. Labor leader Steven Miles, who was premier before the election, improved his net likeability 12 points to -1. Crisafulli led by 40-25 as preferred premier (44-22 in January to April). Unlike Victoria, other recent Queensland polls disagree with Resolve. Early July Queensland polls from Redbridge and DemosAU gave the LNP a 55-45 or 56-44 lead. On Tuesday, Labor failed to gain support for its no-confidence motion in the Tasmanian Liberal government from any non-Labor MP, despite the five Greens and four of six others being left-leaning. With Labor losing the July 19 election, the party leadership was spilled. On Wednesday, Josh Willie from the left faction replaced Dean Winter as Tasmanian Labor leader after a long meeting of Labor's 10 state MPs. Officially this was unanimous to avoid a membership ballot, with Winter stepping aside. The ABC said many MPs wanted Winter to remain leader, but party members would have likely strongly favoured Willie. If Labor wants to return to government soon, Willie will need to repair Labor's relationship with the Greens and left-leaning independents. Labor's last period in government finished in 2014. I previously covered the August 11-16 federal Resolve poll that gave Labor a 59-41 lead. In additional questions, respondents supported a legislated right to work from home at least two days a week by 64-17 if an employee's job allows this. By 66-13, respondents supported a four-day week if an employee did the same work they would have over five days. Victorian and Queensland state Resolve polls both show Labor rebounding from big deficits to now lead. In Tasmania, Josh Willie from the left faction replaces Dean Winter as Labor leader. A Victorian state Resolve poll for The Age, conducted with the federal July and August Resolve polls from a sample more than 1,000, gave the Coalition 33% of the primary vote (down eight since March), Labor 32% (up eight), the Greens 12% (down two), independents 9% (down five) and others 13% (up six). Resolve doesn't usually give a two-party estimate for its state polls, but The Poll Bludger estimated a Labor lead by about 53-47. Labor had been far behind in March. Despite the big gain for Labor on voting intentions, Liberal leader Brad Battin led Labor incumbent Jacinta Allan by 32-25 as preferred premier (36-23 in March). This measure normally favours the incumbent more than voting intentions. Battin's lead may indicate that Labor's recovery is mostly due to the federal election result. The Age's article said Labor's primary vote was 30% in July, before Allan announced her working from home policy, and it improved to 34% in August. A national Resolve poll had voters supporting working from home at least two days a week by 64-17. Allan's net likeability surged 11 points, but is still at -21. This poll agrees with late June Newspoll and Redbridge polls in giving Labor a lead in Victoria. The next Victorian state election is not due until November 2026. While Labor has rebounded, they could fall back if voters focus more on state issues or if federal Labor's popularity subsides. By the next election, Labor will have governed Victoria for the last 12 years, and 23 of the last 27 years, so the Liberals should benefit from an "it's time" factor. However, the Liberals have their own problems with internal divisions. A Queensland state Resolve poll for The Brisbane Times, conducted in July and August from a sample of 869, gave the Liberal National Party (LNP) 34% of the primary vote (down 11 since the January to April Resolve poll), Labor 32% (up ten), the Greens 10% (down two), One Nation 8% (steady), independents 8% (up one) and others 7% (up one). Analyst Kevin Bonham estimated there would be a very narrow Labor lead after preferences. LNP premier David Crisafulli's net likeability was up two points to +20, as this was question last asked before the LNP won the October 2024 election. Labor leader Steven Miles, who was premier before the election, improved his net likeability 12 points to -1. Crisafulli led by 40-25 as preferred premier (44-22 in January to April). Unlike Victoria, other recent Queensland polls disagree with Resolve. Early July Queensland polls from Redbridge and DemosAU gave the LNP a 55-45 or 56-44 lead. On Tuesday, Labor failed to gain support for its no-confidence motion in the Tasmanian Liberal government from any non-Labor MP, despite the five Greens and four of six others being left-leaning. With Labor losing the July 19 election, the party leadership was spilled. On Wednesday, Josh Willie from the left faction replaced Dean Winter as Tasmanian Labor leader after a long meeting of Labor's 10 state MPs. Officially this was unanimous to avoid a membership ballot, with Winter stepping aside. The ABC said many MPs wanted Winter to remain leader, but party members would have likely strongly favoured Willie. If Labor wants to return to government soon, Willie will need to repair Labor's relationship with the Greens and left-leaning independents. Labor's last period in government finished in 2014. I previously covered the August 11-16 federal Resolve poll that gave Labor a 59-41 lead. In additional questions, respondents supported a legislated right to work from home at least two days a week by 64-17 if an employee's job allows this. By 66-13, respondents supported a four-day week if an employee did the same work they would have over five days.
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Perth Now
Labor needs to 'earn trust' after election hammering
Tasmania's Labor opposition needs to earn back trust after an election drubbing and differentiate itself from the Liberals, according to the party's new leader. Former teacher Josh Willie held his first press conference on Thursday, a day after toppling Dean Winter, who only spent 16 months in the role. Mr Willie, from Labor's left faction, reaffirmed his party's support for a new AFL stadium in Hobart and traditional industries including salmon farming. Labor, which has been in opposition for 11 years, received 26 per cent of the primary vote at the July election - its lowest figure in more than a century. The party's bid on Tuesday to take power via a no-confidence motion fell spectacularly flat, with all of the 11-member cross bench deciding to effectively prop up an ongoing Liberal minority government. The early election was sparked after a successful Labor-led no-confidence motion in Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff in June. "I think we need to learn the lessons, and that's Tasmanians don't want politicians in their lives," Mr Willie told reporters. "We need to earn the trust back of Tasmanians and to do that we need to listen first." Mr Willie said Labor needed to differentiate itself from the Liberals, but didn't elaborate on how that would be done. The party needed to continue to focus on "jobs and opportunity" with renewed emphasis on health, cost of living, housing and education, he said. Mr Winter, from Labor's right faction, copped a hiding from the Greens and several independents on Tuesday for his lack of compromise during hung parliament talks. The Liberals made several policy concessions to appease the cross bench, including pledging to ban greyhound racing and undertake a review into the salmon farming industry. Mr Willie repeated Mr Winter's line that the Liberals had "walked away" from their commitments and turned Tasmanians' lives upside down. He said he had the "support of the Labor movement" despite reports claiming the majority of the parliamentary Labor Party wanted Mr Winter to continue. Mr Willie was announced as being elected unopposed after Labor decided not to trigger a ballot of members to decide the leadership. He suggested there wouldn't be any no-confidence motions in the minority Liberals in the short term, saying there were no shortcuts to government. Labor has 10 seats in the 35-seat lower house, with the Liberals holding 14.
News.com.au
11 hours ago
- News.com.au
Tasmania's overlooked mineral wealth shines bright amid stormy seas
Tasmania's been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons of late But its mining scene is continuing to hold strong amid the storm Octava Minerals is the latest junior to throw its hat in the ring, planning to drill an overlooked copper discovery in the Apple Isle Tasmania's political class has been undone by, of all things, an argument over a football team and it would be obvious to all and sundry that the last word to describe the Apple Isle would be stability. But even amid the fog – clearing slightly with re-elected Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff beating off a no-confidence motion from his Labor Opposition this week – a dispute over a stadium in Hobart can't cloud the rich geological potential of its hard-working west coast. There, sitting in a radius smaller less than half the distance of the greater Sydney region, are a host of major mineral deposits along with prospects that have gone mysteriously undrilled for decades. It may be small and remote, and better known for its logging industry and salmon farms, but Tasmania has been a minerals powerhouse as well. In fact, mining makes up more than 50% of the state's mercantile exports, making it Tasmania's largest export industry. The state plays host to one of the world's largest zinc smelters in Hobart, the basis for the establishment of its rich hydroelectric scheme – the cornerstone of an energy system that runs at close to 100% renewable penetration. The 280,000tpa plant, run by Trafigura subsidiary Nyrstar was given a new lease on life this month with the announcement of a government subsidy and plans to extract critical minerals germanium and indium as a by-product. But Tasmania is rich in raw materials as well. Australia's longest running magnetite mine, Grange Resources' (ASX:GRR) Savage River project, has exported high-grade iron ore to Asia for around six decades. It also hosts one of the western world's largest tin operations, the Renison Bell mine 15km north-east of Zeehan, which has gone through various iterations since the discovery of alluvial cassiterite in 1890 by prospector George Renison Bell. Now 50% owned by $520 million capped Metals X (ASX:MLX), the underground operation produces close to 3% of the world's annual output of tin metal and close to 4% of mined supply. But if new explorers and miners moving into the scene in Tasmania have their say, its mining sector could be on track to rapidly diversify in the coming years. Copper opportunities Among the most exciting but commonly overlooked developments in Tasmania's mining sector in recent years was the takeover of New Century Resources by Sibanye-Stillwater. The South African gold and platinum giant has been diversifying into base and battery metals in recent years. And while its acquisition of New Century was largely focused on the tailings retreatment project at Queensland's Century zinc mine, it brought with it an option over the shuttered Mount Lyell copper deposit near the tourist haven of Queenstown in Tassie. Little reported, Sibanye signed off on the option to pick up the Mount Lyell mine from Vedanta and kick off a feasibility study in late 2023. The prospect of the mine's reopening, more than a decade after safety issues led to its 2014 mothballing in a far different copper price environment, is now very real. The US$10m deal netted Sibanye a resource of 79.4Mt of ore containing 1.6Blb of copper and 500,000oz of gold. And that development has thrust a spotlight on other potential copper resources nearby. China's MMG Metals owns the Rosebery mine, where copper is a by-product of zinc and lead mining. And over near Zeehan, ASX explorer Octava Minerals (ASX:OCT) has recently announced an option to acquire the Federation project, a legacy site that has gone untouched for decades despite strong hints of copper, zinc and silver mineralisation. At a market cap of $3m and with the region's largest copper deposits controlled by global miners, it could offer the cheapest exposure to any narrative around Tasmania's mineral resurgence. The Federation era Despite the name, the architecture around the Federation project was put together substantially more recently. Located a stone's throw from the Avebury nickel mine, mothballed due to low prices in 2024 by Mallee Resources, Federation was once part of the Renison Bell portfolio in the 1970s. Drilling at its Sweeney's prospect picked up 23m at 1.19% copper, 1.7% zinc, 121g/t silver and 1.17% tin in one hole reported in 1977. Another collected 24m at 0.25% copper, 0.52% zinc, 42g/t silver and 0.27% tin with accessory antimony and fluorite, both critical minerals today. It may not have sung to a company seeking additional tin supply. But copper now holds significant allure. It fetches US$4.50/lb, is set to see a 70% ramp up in demand by 2050 amid a rapid lift in electrical infrastructure development and is on track to displace iron ore as the main value driver for the world's biggest miner BHP. A discovery in Tasmania would no doubt prick the ears of investors, especially with Mount Lyell's reopening on the agenda. "I think back in the in the late '70s, tin was the focus," Octava managing director Bevan Wakelam said. "They did the drilling and then they had alternative targets they also wanted to test and follow up and the copper side of things was not really in the mix at the time." Octava has 12 months to complete due diligence on the project, which has only been subject to a handful of historical drill holes. "Our geos are on the ground right now, actually. They've gone to site and they're going to be checking out the area at Federation, especially around Sweeney's," Wakelam said. "They'll be checking out some of the old workings there and also scoping out options for drilling." A geophysical survey is the likely first step for the company, which has previously been exploring for rare earths, lithium and antimony in WA. The key will be diamond drilling to infill the holes sunk by Renison in the '70s, seeking evidence of a deeper volcanogenic massive sulphide system, the kind that typically hosts high-grade copper mineralisation. There remains a sense of unfinished business, especially given the infrastructure advantages for developers like Tassie's hydro network and rail infrastructure to the port of Burnie. "In the Renison drilling, they were seeing mineralisation from 50-70m down to 210m and it's still open at depths and along strike," Wakelam said. " A couple of companies in more recent times had picked it up and were planning drill programs ... but due to a number of reasons it just never got done. "It's certainly worth following up that drilling and we're also looking at the potential for a larger system." Regulatory support While at the high level, Tasmania's political scene has been shambolic in recent times, Wakelam says Octava and other explorers have enjoyed strong support at the departmental level from its minerals department and EPA. "They're certainly keen to encourage, you know, people to look for new projects and get new operations up and running," he said. Octava is not the only junior playing the field in west Tassie. One of the better micro cap movers this year, Lode Resources (ASX:LDR) has seen its shares run 78% higher in 2025, in part on the back of high grade antimony, silver and tin results at its Montezuma project. A 50-60 hole program covering 8000-10,000m of core is currently ongoing at the site. In the gold space, Kaiser Reef (ASX:KAU) brought certainty to the future of the Henty gold mine with its $31.6m deal to acquire the mine from WA-focused Catalyst Metals (ASX:CYL) accompanied by a 'robust' five year mine plan to generate upwards of 30,000ozpa from the operation. Further afield, Flynn Gold (ASX:FG1) has taken the early stage route, looking for large scale gold discoveries akin to those across the Bass Strait in Victoria at its Golden Ridge project, a site located in the island's less well mined northeast. Its tenements also include one surrounding the Beaconsfield gold mine, now the site of a museum paying tribute to the state's mining history. One of the world's highest grade undeveloped tin deposits also sits within an ASX explorer, with $32m capped Stellar Resources (ASX:SRZ) currently running a pre-feasibility study on its Heemskirk project on Zeehan's doorstep. Led by former Oklo Resources MD Simon Taylor, who led the African gold explorer into its takeover by B2Gold, Stellar's Heemskirk could eventually become a 3000-3500tpa producer off the back of a resource of 7.48Mt at 1.04% Sn for 77,870t of tin metal, if its aspirational target can be proved up. SRZ's separate North Scamander discovery delivered a significant polymetallic find of high-grade silver, tin, zinc, lead and indium from initial drilling in September 2023. Farther flung is Group 6 Metals (ASX:G6M), which runs one of just two active tungsten mines in Australia at Dolphin on King Island. G6M has been suspended since late last year amid a plan to recapitalise the business, but has continued operating the Dolphin mine in the meantime, benefitting from rising prices for tungsten oxide. It wrapped up open-pit mining in July, with stockpile processing to continue over the next 12 months as the company shifts to underground mining methods.
