Stinking fish stunt brings Parliament to a halt as maverick Green senator is slammed over decapitated salmon
Debate over a controversial bill protecting the rotten salmon industry was thrown into chaos when a Greens senator went rogue by brandishing a rotting dead fish in parliament.
Debate over a controversial bill protecting the rotten salmon industry was thrown into chaos when a Greens senator went rogue by brandishing a rotting dead fish in parliament.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed to legislate to protect salmon farming in Tasmanias world-heritage-listed Macquarie Harbour, sparking a fiery debate and chaotic scenes in the Senate on Wednesday.
Critics of the bill are primarily concerned that pollution from the industry will endangers the at-risk Maugean skate, a ray found only in the state.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young derailed proceedings by thrusting a massive, decapitated salmon in a plastic bag into the air.
Now that the rotting, toxic salmon industry has a carve out from our environment laws, what toxic industry will be next? she addressed Labor senator Jenny McAllister.
Have you sold out your environment credentials for a rotten, stinking extinction salmon?
Senate president Sue Lines repeatedly demanded Senator Hanson-Young to remove the prop from the floor before the Greens member appeared to slap the fish down on the desk.
Behind her, Coalition leader Michaelia Cash was seen laughing into her hand as fellow senator waved their hands in front of their noses due to the stench.
Greens environment spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (pictured) went rogue as she accused the Labor government of selling out its environment credentials
My view is that Australians deserve better from their public representative than stunts, Senator McAllister said in response.
The only way that environmental change has ever occurred in this country is through Labor governments.
As she was addressing the Senator, Senator Hanson-Young could be heard interrupting in the background.
The proposed bill aims to safeguard salmon farms in Macquarie Harbour on Tasmanias west coat, reducing the ways that the public can challenge approvals.
It also removes the environment ministers ability to reconsider Commonwealth environmental decisions when an activity is harming the environment.
The law passed in the lower house on Tuesday with Labor and the Coalition voting together while blocking an attempt by the Greens to have the bill considered by a parliamentary committee.
Mr Albanese has defended the legislation, saying it provides certainty for salmon workers on Tasmanias west coast.
The environment protection laws, which we inherited from John Howard, theyre not fit for purpose, he told ABC Radio National on Tuesday.
Coalition leader Michaelia Cash (pictured in red) was seen laughing into her hand as the chaos unfolded in the Senate as others watched on bemused
We need to make sure that we have a proper federal environmental protection authority, he said.
We need to make sure that we ensure that industry can function, but also that sustainability occurs.
Earlier this week, Mr Albanese told reporters the government makes no apologies for supporting jobs.
However, the law is not favoured by the electorate with The Australia Institute claiming the majority of Australians do not support salmon fishing.
A poll in November revealed that nearly three in five Australians (58 per cent) support an end to fish farming in areas where it puts the Maugean skate at risk of extinction.
Numerous Tasmanian polls show more than 7 in 10 Tasmanians want fish farms out of sensitive inshore waters, the report read.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has said the controversial bill on salmon fishing will protect jobs for workers in Tasmania
The Environmental Defence Office says bigger salmon farms mean more pollution from nitrogen and nutrients that choke sensitive marine ecosystems, impacting the endangered Maugean Skate.
Firebrand Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie told ABC host David Speers the government had backed the wrong side by protecting the salmon industry.
There are 65 per cent of Tasmanians that do not want salmon farming going on in Tasmania, she said.