Kilotonnes of dead salmon spark call for farm scrutiny
Tasmania's salmon industry apologised in March after a spike in deaths at pens in the state's south due to a bacterial outbreak and fish matter washed up on beaches.
Some 3395 tonnes of fish died in pens statewide in March, according to the latest data from the state's environmental regulator.
This comes after more than 6300 tonnes died in February, with the combined 9695 tonnes comprising about 13 per cent of Tasmania's annual farmed salmon production.
The Environmental Protection Authority has declared the unprecedented mortality event over, noting fish deaths had declined by almost half.
"Water temperatures are falling and there has been a significant decline in the number of pens above the mortality reporting thresholds in April," the authority's chief executive Catherine Murdoch said.
Laws requiring salmon farms to report death tonnage to the regulator, which then makes the numbers public, have only recently been implemented.
The regulator said it was unable to provide data about the tonnage of deaths prior to February, while industry body Salmon Tasmania has been contacted for comment.
The Greens renewed calls for a parliamentary inquiry, saying more information needed to be made public.
"Ten million kilograms of dead fish equates to around 2.5 million mature Atlantic salmon that have suffered a cruel death," Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said.
"However, the (regulator) can't or won't provide an accurate breakdown of which leases these deaths occurred within, or even which region of Tasmania they occurred in.
"The unchecked outbreak of disease throughout Tasmania is a biosecurity disaster of unprecedented scale in modern history."
Water monitoring no longer detects antibiotics used to treat the disease, the regulator says.
Huon Aquaculture, one of the companies caught up in the mass mortality, was stripped of its RSPCA green tick after video captured workers sealing live salmon in tubs with dead salmon.
The governing state Liberals and Labor opposition support the industry.
The mass mortality event was "really traumatic", Environment Minister Madeleine Ogilvie told state parliament on Tuesday.
The regulator says it will continue to receive and monitor data and will publish mortality weight information quarterly.
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Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
EU pushes for lower US car tariff in trade deal outline
The European Union will strive to ensure lower US tariffs apply to its car exports retroactively, EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic says, as the trans-Atlantic partners set out details of their framework trade deal struck in July. In a joint statement, the two sides spelled out that 15 per cent US tariffs would apply to most EU imports and listed the commitments made, including the EU's pledge to eliminate tariffs on US industrial goods and to give preferential market access for a wide range of US seafood and agricultural goods. Washington would take steps to reduce the 27.5 per cent US tariffs on cars and car parts, a huge burden for European car makers, once Brussels introduced the legislation needed to enact promised tariff cuts on US goods, it said. The statement on Thursday said US tariff relief on autos and auto parts would kick in on the first day of the month in which the EU introduced the legislation. Sefcovic said it was the European Commission's "firm intention" to make proposals by the end of the month, meaning the US car tariff reduction would apply from August 1. A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, said European car makers could see relief from the current US tariffs within "hopefully weeks". "As soon as they're able to introduce that legislation - and I don't mean pass it and fully implement it, but really introduce it - then we will be in a position to provide that relief. And I will say that both sides are very interested in moving quickly," they said. US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the deal on July 27 at Trump's luxury golf course in Scotland after months of negotiations. The two leaders met again this week as part of negotiations aimed at ending Russia's war in Ukraine, with both lauding their trade framework deal as an historic accomplishment. The joint statement said the deal could be expanded over time to cover additional areas and further improve market access. The joint statement was "a play to hold each other accountable" and ensure that both sides carried out the pledges announced in July, the official said. It noted that the US agreed to apply only pre-existing Most Favoured Nation tariffs of below 15 per cent from September 1 on EU aircraft and parts, generic pharmaceuticals and ingredients, chemical precursors and unavailable natural resources, including cork. This exemption did apply to include wine or spirits, a key EU demand, but the two sides agreed to consider other sectors and products for inclusions. "So these doors are not closed forever," Sefcovic said, while acknowledging that securing an exemption for alcoholic drinks would not be easy. The statement reiterated the EU's intention to procure $US750 billion in US liquefied natural gas, oil and nuclear energy products, plus an additional $US40 billion of US-made artificial intelligence chips. It also repeated the intention for EU companies to invest an additional $US600 billion across US strategic sectors through 2028. Both sides committed to address "unjustified digital trade barriers", the statement said, and the EU agreed not to adopt network usage fees.
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Labor rebounds to leads in Victorian and Queensland Resolve polls
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. 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.
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Sky News AU
Tasmania Labor elect new leader in Josh Willie after Dean Winter's disastrous no confidence challenge fails
The Tasmanian Labor Party have elected a new leader after former opposition leader Dean Winter's disastrous no confidence challenge failed to oust Premier Jeremy Rockliff from the state's top job. Tasmania's three-month-long political quagmire was finally resolved on Tuesday after Labor's no-confidence motion against Premier Rockliff was resoundingly defeated in the lower house. A band of progressive independents and the Greens joined forces with the Liberal Party to vote down the proposal, in a vote that resulted in 24 against the motion, with 10 for. Crossbenchers scorned Mr Winter for refusing to compromise on numerous issues. The decision means that Labor has formally lost the election. On Wednesday, former Labor leader Dean Winter released a statement congratulating the new party leader Josh Willie. "I congratulate Josh Willie on being elected Leader of the Tasmanian Labor Party," Mr Winter wrote. "As Leader, I take full responsibility for our election result, and it is understandable that Labor has a new leader moving forward. Leading the Labor Party has been the honour of my life." Mr Winter said while the election did not convert into a desired result he would continue to serve as a Labor member and, in a slight against Mr Rockliff, vowed to continue his "fight" for Tasmanian workers. "I will never resile from standing strong and true to my word, especially when it comes to Tasmanian workers and traditional industries, including salmon workers and the racing community I care deeply about," he said. "I knew if I sold out the workers, like Jeremy Rockliff has, I could have been Premier. I could never do that ... I will continue to serve as a Labor Member for Franklin in Parliament, and to fight for those workers who the Premier has callously abandoned in his clutch for power." Mr Winter has accused Mr Rockliff of being a sellout and called out the Premier for caving in to demands from the Greens. 'He will have the stigma of being a sellout, of giving in to Green demands on racing, salmon and forestry – selling out people who backed him for 20 years, no one can ever trust you again,' Mr Winter said. In his own statement, Mr Willie said it was a "great honour" to be elected Tasmania's Labor Leader and thanked his predecessor for his service. "He's a proud Tasmanian with strong Labor values and he'll continue to work to make Tasmania a better place," he said in a statement. Labor's no-confidence motion loss was an embarrassing defeat for the now-former Opposition Leader, who repeatedly refused to negotiate with the crossbench on a range of issues. Labor backbenchers have told Sky News Mr Willie may be able to effectively negotiate with the Greens and progressive crossbenchers.
