Australian Government Passes Controversial Salmon Farming Law

Legislation secures Tasmania's salmon industry but draws criticism over environmental risks and rushed process.

The Albanese government has passed amendments to Australia's environmental laws, ensuring the continuation of salmon farming in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour.
The legislation removes the environment minister's ability to reconsider certain environmental approvals after five years, a move criticized for weakening protections.
Environmental groups and the Greens argue the law puts the critically endangered Maugean skate at greater risk of extinction due to salmon farming's impact on oxygen levels in the harbor.
The government allocated $28 million for environmental mitigation, including oxygenation efforts and a captive breeding program for the Maugean skate.
The rushed passage of the bill, just before the federal election, has sparked legal challenges and concerns about broader implications for environmental governance.