Albanese government under fire for dropping English language requirements amid high migration numbers
In a change revealed on Tuesday, Assistant Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite signed off on new rules reducing the minimum English test scores required to demonstrate 'functional' proficiency - a key requirement for several visa categories, including the training and work and holiday visas.
It's the first revision to the scoring standards in a decade and affects several major testing systems used by prospective migrants.
Assistant Minister Matt Thistlethwaite igned off on new rules reducing the minimum English test scores to demonstrate a functional level of English. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short
For the widely used Pearson Test of English (PTE), the pass mark has dropped from 30 out of 90 to 24.
Meanwhile, the minimum score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) was lowered from 32 out of 120 to just 26.
According to Pearson's own criteria, the lower score reflects a significant shift in ability from someone who 'can understand sentences and frequently used expressions' to a person who can only 'understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases'.
Shadow Home Affairs Minister Andrew Hastie. Picture: Richard Dobson / NewsWire
Only the benchmark for the most popular test, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), remains unchanged at 4.5 out of 9.
Opposition home affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie slammed the move as reckless and out of touch with the pressures facing Australians.
'The Albanese Labor government brought in a million migrants in its first two years, 70 per cent higher than in any previous two-year period,' Mr Hastie said. 'A new person is migrating to Australia every 54 seconds.
"This is unsustainable. Instead of moderating immigration, the minister is lowering minimum English proficiency standards.
'Under (Home Affairs Minister) Tony Burke, our migration system is out of control, and it's only going to get worse. Australians are worse off under Labor's immigration policy.
"Our infrastructure is under pressure, essential services are stretched thin, and young Australians are locked out of the housing market. Social cohesion is fraying.'
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke holds a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
Mr Burke rejected the claims and accused the Opposition of playing politics with multicultural communities.
However, he did not clarify the reasons behind the decision.
'Net overseas migration has fallen, as we said it would,' Mr Burke said.
'I'd been told the opposition wanted to have a reset with multicultural communities. It appears with Mr Hastie nothing has changed, no message has been received.'
The Coalition, which had promised to cap migration at 160,000 per year during the last election campaign, has so far kept relatively quiet on the issue post-defeat, but these latest changes appear to have reignited the debate over Australia's immigration settings.
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29 minutes ago
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'Standard practice': summiteers play down Treasury leak
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Independent economist Saul Eslake said suggestions the roundtable's outcome had been agreed upon because of the leaked document should be disregarded. "It's standard Treasury practice to brief its minister for any serious discussions or conversations he might be about to have," he told AAP. "It would be astonishing if Treasury wasn't at least thinking about how the treasurer should respond to some of the ideas that have been flagged by participants in the summit that they're going to put." The advice should not be read as particular policies getting a green light, Mr Eslake said. Treasurer Jim Chalmers also dismissed concerns the summit's outcomes had been pre-empted. "Those that have been reported today are just a few of the many ideas which have been put to us and they're all welcome on the table," he said. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the coalition would examine suggestions from the roundtable, but had concerns about how the event was being handled. "I wonder whether people who are attending this roundtable are indeed wasting their time," she said. "What we won't do is accept an agenda that raises taxes on hardworking Australians, particularly because that's exactly what the government promised it would not do." Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said the roundtable would be a "legacy moment" for reform. "It is Treasury's role to provide advice to the government and that is the case here - and we shouldn't assume it automatically becomes government policy. They are doing their job," he told AAP. "Next week's roundtable is an opportunity for the government and, while it may not be getting consensus, it will give clear understandings around the big challenges that we face around productivity and investment." Part of the reason productivity growth has been so poor is because competition has fallen since the mid-2000s, costing Australia up to $3000 per person, the Reserve Bank found in a report released on Thursday. If Australia could get competition back to where it was two decades ago, it could boost productivity by one to three per cent, said report authors Jonathan Hambur and Owen Freestone. The Productivity Commission released its final report before the summit, calling for a national screening system for care workers, greater collaboration between health services and a major shift towards preventive health investment. Commissioner Alison Roberts said care was a rapidly growing sector and proposed reforms would seek to break through the government's siloed approach to decision-making. The interim report urges the government to better align quality and safety regulations across the care economy. That could include a streamlined national clearance process for workers in aged care, the NDIS, veterans' care and the early childhood education sector. Economists and business groups have joined the prime minister in insisting an upcoming economic roundtable can still produce big ideas. Leaked Treasury advice reportedly showed a list of proposals to be reviewed by cabinet after the meeting of business, union and other leaders at a productivity roundtable on Tuesday. Among them were proposals to speed up approval times for housing and reduce environmental red tape, according to the ABC. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denied the result of the summit had been locked in before it began. "You'd expect Treasury to be giving advice about a forum that's about the economy," he told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "Next week, though, is an opportunity for people to advance their ideas, to advance policies, and that's a really constructive thing." The government has ruled out major changes in some areas, including tax policies, before the three-day summit despite calls for widespread reform to bolster Australia's lagging productivity rates. Independent economist Saul Eslake said suggestions the roundtable's outcome had been agreed upon because of the leaked document should be disregarded. "It's standard Treasury practice to brief its minister for any serious discussions or conversations he might be about to have," he told AAP. "It would be astonishing if Treasury wasn't at least thinking about how the treasurer should respond to some of the ideas that have been flagged by participants in the summit that they're going to put." The advice should not be read as particular policies getting a green light, Mr Eslake said. Treasurer Jim Chalmers also dismissed concerns the summit's outcomes had been pre-empted. "Those that have been reported today are just a few of the many ideas which have been put to us and they're all welcome on the table," he said. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the coalition would examine suggestions from the roundtable, but had concerns about how the event was being handled. "I wonder whether people who are attending this roundtable are indeed wasting their time," she said. "What we won't do is accept an agenda that raises taxes on hardworking Australians, particularly because that's exactly what the government promised it would not do." Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said the roundtable would be a "legacy moment" for reform. "It is Treasury's role to provide advice to the government and that is the case here - and we shouldn't assume it automatically becomes government policy. They are doing their job," he told AAP. "Next week's roundtable is an opportunity for the government and, while it may not be getting consensus, it will give clear understandings around the big challenges that we face around productivity and investment." Part of the reason productivity growth has been so poor is because competition has fallen since the mid-2000s, costing Australia up to $3000 per person, the Reserve Bank found in a report released on Thursday. If Australia could get competition back to where it was two decades ago, it could boost productivity by one to three per cent, said report authors Jonathan Hambur and Owen Freestone. The Productivity Commission released its final report before the summit, calling for a national screening system for care workers, greater collaboration between health services and a major shift towards preventive health investment. Commissioner Alison Roberts said care was a rapidly growing sector and proposed reforms would seek to break through the government's siloed approach to decision-making. The interim report urges the government to better align quality and safety regulations across the care economy. That could include a streamlined national clearance process for workers in aged care, the NDIS, veterans' care and the early childhood education sector. Economists and business groups have joined the prime minister in insisting an upcoming economic roundtable can still produce big ideas. Leaked Treasury advice reportedly showed a list of proposals to be reviewed by cabinet after the meeting of business, union and other leaders at a productivity roundtable on Tuesday. Among them were proposals to speed up approval times for housing and reduce environmental red tape, according to the ABC. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denied the result of the summit had been locked in before it began. "You'd expect Treasury to be giving advice about a forum that's about the economy," he told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "Next week, though, is an opportunity for people to advance their ideas, to advance policies, and that's a really constructive thing." The government has ruled out major changes in some areas, including tax policies, before the three-day summit despite calls for widespread reform to bolster Australia's lagging productivity rates. Independent economist Saul Eslake said suggestions the roundtable's outcome had been agreed upon because of the leaked document should be disregarded. "It's standard Treasury practice to brief its minister for any serious discussions or conversations he might be about to have," he told AAP. "It would be astonishing if Treasury wasn't at least thinking about how the treasurer should respond to some of the ideas that have been flagged by participants in the summit that they're going to put." The advice should not be read as particular policies getting a green light, Mr Eslake said. Treasurer Jim Chalmers also dismissed concerns the summit's outcomes had been pre-empted. "Those that have been reported today are just a few of the many ideas which have been put to us and they're all welcome on the table," he said. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the coalition would examine suggestions from the roundtable, but had concerns about how the event was being handled. "I wonder whether people who are attending this roundtable are indeed wasting their time," she said. "What we won't do is accept an agenda that raises taxes on hardworking Australians, particularly because that's exactly what the government promised it would not do." Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said the roundtable would be a "legacy moment" for reform. "It is Treasury's role to provide advice to the government and that is the case here - and we shouldn't assume it automatically becomes government policy. They are doing their job," he told AAP. "Next week's roundtable is an opportunity for the government and, while it may not be getting consensus, it will give clear understandings around the big challenges that we face around productivity and investment." Part of the reason productivity growth has been so poor is because competition has fallen since the mid-2000s, costing Australia up to $3000 per person, the Reserve Bank found in a report released on Thursday. If Australia could get competition back to where it was two decades ago, it could boost productivity by one to three per cent, said report authors Jonathan Hambur and Owen Freestone. The Productivity Commission released its final report before the summit, calling for a national screening system for care workers, greater collaboration between health services and a major shift towards preventive health investment. Commissioner Alison Roberts said care was a rapidly growing sector and proposed reforms would seek to break through the government's siloed approach to decision-making. The interim report urges the government to better align quality and safety regulations across the care economy. That could include a streamlined national clearance process for workers in aged care, the NDIS, veterans' care and the early childhood education sector. Economists and business groups have joined the prime minister in insisting an upcoming economic roundtable can still produce big ideas. Leaked Treasury advice reportedly showed a list of proposals to be reviewed by cabinet after the meeting of business, union and other leaders at a productivity roundtable on Tuesday. Among them were proposals to speed up approval times for housing and reduce environmental red tape, according to the ABC. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denied the result of the summit had been locked in before it began. "You'd expect Treasury to be giving advice about a forum that's about the economy," he told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "Next week, though, is an opportunity for people to advance their ideas, to advance policies, and that's a really constructive thing." The government has ruled out major changes in some areas, including tax policies, before the three-day summit despite calls for widespread reform to bolster Australia's lagging productivity rates. Independent economist Saul Eslake said suggestions the roundtable's outcome had been agreed upon because of the leaked document should be disregarded. "It's standard Treasury practice to brief its minister for any serious discussions or conversations he might be about to have," he told AAP. "It would be astonishing if Treasury wasn't at least thinking about how the treasurer should respond to some of the ideas that have been flagged by participants in the summit that they're going to put." The advice should not be read as particular policies getting a green light, Mr Eslake said. Treasurer Jim Chalmers also dismissed concerns the summit's outcomes had been pre-empted. "Those that have been reported today are just a few of the many ideas which have been put to us and they're all welcome on the table," he said. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the coalition would examine suggestions from the roundtable, but had concerns about how the event was being handled. "I wonder whether people who are attending this roundtable are indeed wasting their time," she said. "What we won't do is accept an agenda that raises taxes on hardworking Australians, particularly because that's exactly what the government promised it would not do." Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said the roundtable would be a "legacy moment" for reform. "It is Treasury's role to provide advice to the government and that is the case here - and we shouldn't assume it automatically becomes government policy. They are doing their job," he told AAP. "Next week's roundtable is an opportunity for the government and, while it may not be getting consensus, it will give clear understandings around the big challenges that we face around productivity and investment." Part of the reason productivity growth has been so poor is because competition has fallen since the mid-2000s, costing Australia up to $3000 per person, the Reserve Bank found in a report released on Thursday. If Australia could get competition back to where it was two decades ago, it could boost productivity by one to three per cent, said report authors Jonathan Hambur and Owen Freestone. The Productivity Commission released its final report before the summit, calling for a national screening system for care workers, greater collaboration between health services and a major shift towards preventive health investment. Commissioner Alison Roberts said care was a rapidly growing sector and proposed reforms would seek to break through the government's siloed approach to decision-making. The interim report urges the government to better align quality and safety regulations across the care economy. That could include a streamlined national clearance process for workers in aged care, the NDIS, veterans' care and the early childhood education sector.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
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Leaders tested as gun fired in race for seaside seat
An unusual by-election is looming as the first real test of an opposition leader's ambitions to become premier of his state. NSW Labor on Thursday confirmed former journalist and union official Katelin McInerney as its candidate bidding to win the coastal seat of Kiama on September 13 and inch the party closer to majority government. But the by-election, triggered by former MP Gareth Ward being jailed for rape, has heralded the first test of the Liberal leader Mark Speakman's electoral chops. Mr Speakman will hope to stave off internal challengers by winning over voters who backed Ward in 2023 after he was banished from the party. Five by-elections have been held since the last election but Kiama is the first true Liberal-Labor battle, election analyst Ben Raue told AAP. "Speakman has struggled to break through and so there could be implications for him, in terms of his leadership if they don't do well," Mr Raue said. "By-elections, historically, have often been triggers for changes in party leadership." The importance Labor is placing on the contest was reflected by Thursday's visit to the seat by Premier Chris Minns. He unveiled Ms McInerney, a Kiama local, as the candidate trusted by party officials to turn the former safe seat red for the first time since 2011. Ward edged out Ms McInerney by fewer than 700 votes in 2023 but a large swing to Labor in upper house polling places it in the box seat to win it back. The government has not run a candidate in any other by-election since 2023. "We're nervous about the by-election, but we're also determined to fight for every single vote in the next few weeks," the premier said. The police investigation into Ward sparked his exit from the Liberal Party in 2021 and his suspension from parliament in 2022, before voters re-elected the charged man in 2023. "The people of Kiama have had uncertainty for the better part of five years ... people are telling me they want a strong voice in parliament," Ms McInerney said. Mr Raue said electoral baggage from Ward's status as a long-time Liberal MP would likely harm the opposition's chances. Mr Speakman downplayed his party's chances ahead of unveiling the Liberal candidate on Friday. The Liberals ran a candidate in 2023, but garnered only one in eight votes with many local branch members refusing to try to dislodge the incumbent Ward. "I'm prepared to take the fight up to the government and, more importantly, to give the people of Kiama a choice," Mr Speakman told ABC Radio Sydney on Wednesday. Ward is in prison awaiting sentencing for offences including sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a parliamentary event in 2015. He was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man in 2013. Ward intends to appeal his convictions. An unusual by-election is looming as the first real test of an opposition leader's ambitions to become premier of his state. NSW Labor on Thursday confirmed former journalist and union official Katelin McInerney as its candidate bidding to win the coastal seat of Kiama on September 13 and inch the party closer to majority government. But the by-election, triggered by former MP Gareth Ward being jailed for rape, has heralded the first test of the Liberal leader Mark Speakman's electoral chops. Mr Speakman will hope to stave off internal challengers by winning over voters who backed Ward in 2023 after he was banished from the party. Five by-elections have been held since the last election but Kiama is the first true Liberal-Labor battle, election analyst Ben Raue told AAP. "Speakman has struggled to break through and so there could be implications for him, in terms of his leadership if they don't do well," Mr Raue said. "By-elections, historically, have often been triggers for changes in party leadership." The importance Labor is placing on the contest was reflected by Thursday's visit to the seat by Premier Chris Minns. He unveiled Ms McInerney, a Kiama local, as the candidate trusted by party officials to turn the former safe seat red for the first time since 2011. Ward edged out Ms McInerney by fewer than 700 votes in 2023 but a large swing to Labor in upper house polling places it in the box seat to win it back. The government has not run a candidate in any other by-election since 2023. "We're nervous about the by-election, but we're also determined to fight for every single vote in the next few weeks," the premier said. The police investigation into Ward sparked his exit from the Liberal Party in 2021 and his suspension from parliament in 2022, before voters re-elected the charged man in 2023. "The people of Kiama have had uncertainty for the better part of five years ... people are telling me they want a strong voice in parliament," Ms McInerney said. Mr Raue said electoral baggage from Ward's status as a long-time Liberal MP would likely harm the opposition's chances. Mr Speakman downplayed his party's chances ahead of unveiling the Liberal candidate on Friday. The Liberals ran a candidate in 2023, but garnered only one in eight votes with many local branch members refusing to try to dislodge the incumbent Ward. "I'm prepared to take the fight up to the government and, more importantly, to give the people of Kiama a choice," Mr Speakman told ABC Radio Sydney on Wednesday. Ward is in prison awaiting sentencing for offences including sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a parliamentary event in 2015. He was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man in 2013. Ward intends to appeal his convictions. An unusual by-election is looming as the first real test of an opposition leader's ambitions to become premier of his state. NSW Labor on Thursday confirmed former journalist and union official Katelin McInerney as its candidate bidding to win the coastal seat of Kiama on September 13 and inch the party closer to majority government. But the by-election, triggered by former MP Gareth Ward being jailed for rape, has heralded the first test of the Liberal leader Mark Speakman's electoral chops. Mr Speakman will hope to stave off internal challengers by winning over voters who backed Ward in 2023 after he was banished from the party. Five by-elections have been held since the last election but Kiama is the first true Liberal-Labor battle, election analyst Ben Raue told AAP. "Speakman has struggled to break through and so there could be implications for him, in terms of his leadership if they don't do well," Mr Raue said. "By-elections, historically, have often been triggers for changes in party leadership." The importance Labor is placing on the contest was reflected by Thursday's visit to the seat by Premier Chris Minns. He unveiled Ms McInerney, a Kiama local, as the candidate trusted by party officials to turn the former safe seat red for the first time since 2011. Ward edged out Ms McInerney by fewer than 700 votes in 2023 but a large swing to Labor in upper house polling places it in the box seat to win it back. The government has not run a candidate in any other by-election since 2023. "We're nervous about the by-election, but we're also determined to fight for every single vote in the next few weeks," the premier said. The police investigation into Ward sparked his exit from the Liberal Party in 2021 and his suspension from parliament in 2022, before voters re-elected the charged man in 2023. "The people of Kiama have had uncertainty for the better part of five years ... people are telling me they want a strong voice in parliament," Ms McInerney said. Mr Raue said electoral baggage from Ward's status as a long-time Liberal MP would likely harm the opposition's chances. Mr Speakman downplayed his party's chances ahead of unveiling the Liberal candidate on Friday. The Liberals ran a candidate in 2023, but garnered only one in eight votes with many local branch members refusing to try to dislodge the incumbent Ward. "I'm prepared to take the fight up to the government and, more importantly, to give the people of Kiama a choice," Mr Speakman told ABC Radio Sydney on Wednesday. Ward is in prison awaiting sentencing for offences including sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a parliamentary event in 2015. He was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man in 2013. Ward intends to appeal his convictions. An unusual by-election is looming as the first real test of an opposition leader's ambitions to become premier of his state. NSW Labor on Thursday confirmed former journalist and union official Katelin McInerney as its candidate bidding to win the coastal seat of Kiama on September 13 and inch the party closer to majority government. But the by-election, triggered by former MP Gareth Ward being jailed for rape, has heralded the first test of the Liberal leader Mark Speakman's electoral chops. Mr Speakman will hope to stave off internal challengers by winning over voters who backed Ward in 2023 after he was banished from the party. Five by-elections have been held since the last election but Kiama is the first true Liberal-Labor battle, election analyst Ben Raue told AAP. "Speakman has struggled to break through and so there could be implications for him, in terms of his leadership if they don't do well," Mr Raue said. "By-elections, historically, have often been triggers for changes in party leadership." The importance Labor is placing on the contest was reflected by Thursday's visit to the seat by Premier Chris Minns. He unveiled Ms McInerney, a Kiama local, as the candidate trusted by party officials to turn the former safe seat red for the first time since 2011. Ward edged out Ms McInerney by fewer than 700 votes in 2023 but a large swing to Labor in upper house polling places it in the box seat to win it back. The government has not run a candidate in any other by-election since 2023. "We're nervous about the by-election, but we're also determined to fight for every single vote in the next few weeks," the premier said. The police investigation into Ward sparked his exit from the Liberal Party in 2021 and his suspension from parliament in 2022, before voters re-elected the charged man in 2023. "The people of Kiama have had uncertainty for the better part of five years ... people are telling me they want a strong voice in parliament," Ms McInerney said. Mr Raue said electoral baggage from Ward's status as a long-time Liberal MP would likely harm the opposition's chances. Mr Speakman downplayed his party's chances ahead of unveiling the Liberal candidate on Friday. The Liberals ran a candidate in 2023, but garnered only one in eight votes with many local branch members refusing to try to dislodge the incumbent Ward. "I'm prepared to take the fight up to the government and, more importantly, to give the people of Kiama a choice," Mr Speakman told ABC Radio Sydney on Wednesday. Ward is in prison awaiting sentencing for offences including sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a parliamentary event in 2015. He was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man in 2013. Ward intends to appeal his convictions.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
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Salmon farms green lit, but conservation fight not over
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Mr Watt spruiked $18.3 million for an artificial pumping program designed to replace oxygen in the water consumed by salmon farming. The federal government's decision was based on "all relevant information", Mr Watt said. The decision was possible after law changes removed the minister's ability to reconsider previous decisions if they had been ongoing for at least five years. Critics argued the laws, passed in March before the May election, were rushed. Mr Watt's decision on Macquarie Harbour came a week before a Bob Brown Foundation challenge to the laws was set to be heard in the Federal Court. Foundation campaigner Alistair Allan accused the federal government of driving the final nail in the coffin of the skate. He said next week's Federal Court action was now dead, but fresh legal action would be launched based on the grounds the law doesn't apply to industrial fish farming in the harbour "It is a disgrace that a species that was identified by the Albanese government as a priority threatened species in 2022 has been purposely abandoned by 2025," Mr Allan said. Industry body Salmon Tasmania said the decision provided certainty for the 400-plus workers who depended on aquaculture in the harbour. There had been a body of new information showing improvements in the harbour's health since 2023, Salmon Tasmania CEO John Whittington said. A University of Tasmania study published in February found there had been a significant decline in the skate's abundance from 2014-2022, but numbers had risen since. Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson accused the federal government of dodging accountability with the timing of their decision. "The only reason this decision has been made by the minister now is to scuttle the Federal Court case. The Albanese government had two years to make this decision and didn't," he said. An endangered fish has had the "final nail" in its coffin driven by the federal government after it gave the green light for ongoing salmon farming in a remote harbour. That's the view of environmentalists who have vowed to maintain their legal fight against aquaculture in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour. It was revealed on Thursday Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt had ended a reconsideration of aquaculture approvals in the harbour, based on new national laws. "(The) decision allows for the continuation of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour," he said. The reconsideration process was sparked in late 2023 by conservation groups, who argue salmon farming needs to stop to safeguard the endangered Maugean skate. It is estimated there are 40-120 adult skate in the harbour, the species' only home, with salmon farming and hydro flows among factors contributing to their decline. Mr Watt spruiked $18.3 million for an artificial pumping program designed to replace oxygen in the water consumed by salmon farming. The federal government's decision was based on "all relevant information", Mr Watt said. The decision was possible after law changes removed the minister's ability to reconsider previous decisions if they had been ongoing for at least five years. Critics argued the laws, passed in March before the May election, were rushed. Mr Watt's decision on Macquarie Harbour came a week before a Bob Brown Foundation challenge to the laws was set to be heard in the Federal Court. Foundation campaigner Alistair Allan accused the federal government of driving the final nail in the coffin of the skate. He said next week's Federal Court action was now dead, but fresh legal action would be launched based on the grounds the law doesn't apply to industrial fish farming in the harbour "It is a disgrace that a species that was identified by the Albanese government as a priority threatened species in 2022 has been purposely abandoned by 2025," Mr Allan said. Industry body Salmon Tasmania said the decision provided certainty for the 400-plus workers who depended on aquaculture in the harbour. There had been a body of new information showing improvements in the harbour's health since 2023, Salmon Tasmania CEO John Whittington said. A University of Tasmania study published in February found there had been a significant decline in the skate's abundance from 2014-2022, but numbers had risen since. Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson accused the federal government of dodging accountability with the timing of their decision. "The only reason this decision has been made by the minister now is to scuttle the Federal Court case. The Albanese government had two years to make this decision and didn't," he said. An endangered fish has had the "final nail" in its coffin driven by the federal government after it gave the green light for ongoing salmon farming in a remote harbour. That's the view of environmentalists who have vowed to maintain their legal fight against aquaculture in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour. It was revealed on Thursday Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt had ended a reconsideration of aquaculture approvals in the harbour, based on new national laws. "(The) decision allows for the continuation of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour," he said. The reconsideration process was sparked in late 2023 by conservation groups, who argue salmon farming needs to stop to safeguard the endangered Maugean skate. It is estimated there are 40-120 adult skate in the harbour, the species' only home, with salmon farming and hydro flows among factors contributing to their decline. Mr Watt spruiked $18.3 million for an artificial pumping program designed to replace oxygen in the water consumed by salmon farming. The federal government's decision was based on "all relevant information", Mr Watt said. The decision was possible after law changes removed the minister's ability to reconsider previous decisions if they had been ongoing for at least five years. Critics argued the laws, passed in March before the May election, were rushed. Mr Watt's decision on Macquarie Harbour came a week before a Bob Brown Foundation challenge to the laws was set to be heard in the Federal Court. Foundation campaigner Alistair Allan accused the federal government of driving the final nail in the coffin of the skate. He said next week's Federal Court action was now dead, but fresh legal action would be launched based on the grounds the law doesn't apply to industrial fish farming in the harbour "It is a disgrace that a species that was identified by the Albanese government as a priority threatened species in 2022 has been purposely abandoned by 2025," Mr Allan said. Industry body Salmon Tasmania said the decision provided certainty for the 400-plus workers who depended on aquaculture in the harbour. There had been a body of new information showing improvements in the harbour's health since 2023, Salmon Tasmania CEO John Whittington said. A University of Tasmania study published in February found there had been a significant decline in the skate's abundance from 2014-2022, but numbers had risen since. Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson accused the federal government of dodging accountability with the timing of their decision. "The only reason this decision has been made by the minister now is to scuttle the Federal Court case. The Albanese government had two years to make this decision and didn't," he said. An endangered fish has had the "final nail" in its coffin driven by the federal government after it gave the green light for ongoing salmon farming in a remote harbour. That's the view of environmentalists who have vowed to maintain their legal fight against aquaculture in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour. It was revealed on Thursday Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt had ended a reconsideration of aquaculture approvals in the harbour, based on new national laws. "(The) decision allows for the continuation of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour," he said. The reconsideration process was sparked in late 2023 by conservation groups, who argue salmon farming needs to stop to safeguard the endangered Maugean skate. It is estimated there are 40-120 adult skate in the harbour, the species' only home, with salmon farming and hydro flows among factors contributing to their decline. Mr Watt spruiked $18.3 million for an artificial pumping program designed to replace oxygen in the water consumed by salmon farming. The federal government's decision was based on "all relevant information", Mr Watt said. The decision was possible after law changes removed the minister's ability to reconsider previous decisions if they had been ongoing for at least five years. Critics argued the laws, passed in March before the May election, were rushed. Mr Watt's decision on Macquarie Harbour came a week before a Bob Brown Foundation challenge to the laws was set to be heard in the Federal Court. Foundation campaigner Alistair Allan accused the federal government of driving the final nail in the coffin of the skate. He said next week's Federal Court action was now dead, but fresh legal action would be launched based on the grounds the law doesn't apply to industrial fish farming in the harbour "It is a disgrace that a species that was identified by the Albanese government as a priority threatened species in 2022 has been purposely abandoned by 2025," Mr Allan said. Industry body Salmon Tasmania said the decision provided certainty for the 400-plus workers who depended on aquaculture in the harbour. There had been a body of new information showing improvements in the harbour's health since 2023, Salmon Tasmania CEO John Whittington said. A University of Tasmania study published in February found there had been a significant decline in the skate's abundance from 2014-2022, but numbers had risen since. Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson accused the federal government of dodging accountability with the timing of their decision. "The only reason this decision has been made by the minister now is to scuttle the Federal Court case. The Albanese government had two years to make this decision and didn't," he said.
