The fate of the Maugean skate hangs in the balance as political controversy swirls around Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour. But did the Albanese government turn a blind eye to environmental concerns?
Newly disclosed documents reveal that the former federal environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, received departmental advice to revoke salmon farming approvals in Macquarie Harbour, yet no action was taken. This harbour, nestled on Tasmania's west coast, is the last sanctuary for the endangered Maugean skate, which shares its waters with a thriving salmon farming industry producing nearly 9,500 tonnes annually.
The skate's endangered status is attributed to the deteriorating water quality and diminishing oxygen levels in the harbour, with aquaculture identified as the primary culprit by the Commonwealth conservation advice.
In a bid to protect the Maugean skate, three conservation groups petitioned Minister Plibersek in 2023 to reconsider the 2012 decision to expand salmon farming without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). They argued that the industry's detrimental effects on the skate warranted the expansion to be classified as a 'controlled action', necessitating an EIA.
The department's recommendation, sent to Plibersek's office in January 2025, stated, 'You have the authority to determine that the action has had, and will likely continue to have, a significant impact on protected matters, specifically the endangered Maugean skate and the World Heritage values of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.'
The department further advised that the minister could revoke the original decision due to new information and changed circumstances. Had this course of action been taken, the salmon industry would have been forced to halt operations in Macquarie Harbour until an EIA was conducted.
However, the Labor government, led by PM Anthony Albanese, chose a different path. Instead of following the department's advice, they introduced legislation to remove the requirement for ministerial reconsideration of the previous decision, which was passed with Coalition support in March 2025, just months before the federal election.
Environmental groups, including the Bob Brown Foundation, have accused the government of disregarding expert advice and scientific evidence. They argue that the government prioritized political gain over the survival of a species by allowing salmon farming to continue in Macquarie Harbour.
The government, however, maintains that it is committed to a sustainable salmon industry that balances economic interests with environmental protection. They assert that the department's advice was based on a specific moment in time and an outdated legislative framework.
The controversy escalated when Environment Minister Murray Watt approved the continuation of salmon farming in August 2025, following the legal changes. This decision is now being challenged in the Federal Court by NWTAS for Clean Oceans.
The government's commitment to the environment is further questioned by its decision to maintain the Maugean skate's endangered status instead of upgrading it to critically endangered. This choice was made despite allocating $37.5 million since 2021 to improve water conditions in Macquarie Harbour, including $10 million for a captive breeding program for the skate.
So, did the Albanese government strike the right balance between industry and the environment, or did they sacrifice ecological responsibility for political expediency? The debate rages on, leaving the future of the Maugean skate and Macquarie Harbour's ecosystem in a state of uncertainty.
