The prime minister has flown to Tasmania to tour salmon farms in Macquarie harbour. As his environment minister looks at whether the industry can continue there amid concerns about the endangered Maugean skate. Anthony Albanese has told the local community he'll do what's necessary to protect their jobs. But he's provided no details to back up his promise.
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00:00In the centre of a political storm, Anthony Albanese visiting Macquarie Harbour, where
00:08his Environment Minister is assessing whether salmon farming operations should be reconsidered,
00:13amid concerns about the endangered Morgian skate.
00:15I'm the Prime Minister, I'm here at the invitation of the Mayor and it's appropriate that I come
00:23to show my support for this local community.
00:26A week after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton vowed to protect the salmon industry.
00:31We will not be stopping salmon farming, in fact I want to see salmon farming grow in
00:34Tasmania.
00:35The Prime Minister didn't come bearing the same Christmas gift.
00:39I'm not pre-empting a review, what I'm saying is we'll do what's necessary to support jobs
00:45in this industry.
00:46We want to make sure that the salmon industry stays in strong, as it is, and we don't want
00:51to see a decrease either.
00:52The Prime Minister moved on to an event sponsored by the salmon farms.
00:56We want our jobs, it's a livelihood, we just want to stay here.
00:59They have to work together, both the environment and the working industry, because if we don't
01:04have an industry here, there'll be no town.
01:08Not everyone was happy with support for the industry, but all sides of politics calling
01:12for a decision to come soon.
01:14What Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton should do is front up and actually be honest with the workers
01:21on the West Coast and explain to them it's not their fault, but a transition needs to
01:26happen to protect the environment.
01:28There is only one Christmas present the people of the West Coast want and the people of Tasmania
01:32need and that is certainty for our salmon industry.
01:34Labor is eager to neutralise the salmon debate as it tries to hang on to the marginal seat
01:39of Lyons and win back Braddon.
01:41The Prime Minister will announce his candidate for the northern seat of Bass tomorrow, as
01:45the government kicks its election preparation into overdrive.
01:51For more UN videos visit www.un.org