Labor has shown once again that they cannot be trusted on salmon.
Their announcement today is nothing more than a rushed, half-baked fig leaf attempt to cover the fact that Labor are soft on salmon farming.
Labor are trying to second guess the independent Environmental Protection Authority by putting in place new rules which are all about appeasing the Greens.
Components of their announcement, such as the frequency of surveys of the seabed, are something the EPA is already able to do.
Further, our reforms to strengthen regulation ensure the EPA has the ability to regulate the amount of fish on each lease.
Unlike Labor, we trust the independent regulator, we trust the science, and we won't be making political decisions to try and appease the Greens like they are.
This last tortuous week for Labor on salmon has laid bare their divisions, and confirmed that they simply can't be trusted to support the industry and to support salmon jobs.
We've had Mr Green both oppose and support Okehampton in the same day before going into hiding for five days, and then Josh Willie's infamous media appearance on the weekend where he said Labor would have a position on Okehampton Bay in coming months - which has now become just two days!
The bottom line is that Labor can't be trusted on salmon, they can’t be trusted on Okehampton Bay, and they can’t be trusted to protect jobs in regional Tasmania because they want to do another election deal with the Greens.
More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff
More Media Releases from the Minister for Primary Industries and Water