Choosing extinction over science?

Bob Brown Foundation says newly-released freedom of information documents show that the Albanese government chose to ignore the science relating to the threatened Maugean Skate and other species.

FOI documents released to Rex Patrick have revealed that the advice from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) to then Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek, was to revoke the approval of fish farms in Macquarie Harbour and confirm that it needed to be a controlled action under the EPBC Act.

Despite this advice, it appears that PM Anthony Albanese chose to ignore his own department, as well as the scientific evidence. Instead he chose to risk the extinction of a species for political gain by allowing fish farms to continue operating in Macquarie Harbour.

Bob Brown Foundation is calling for fish farms to be removed from Macquarie Harbour permanently.

Catastrophic

‘These documents show that fish farms in no certain terms were and still are having a significant impact on the Maugean Skate and are a catastrophic impact on the species’ survival,’ said Alistair Allan, Antarctic and Marine Campaigner at Bob Brown Foundation.

‘In the face of such iron-clad evidence, PM Albanese chose to completely undermine and rewrite Australia’s environmental law, rather than enact his duty to protect endangered Australian wildlife. This shows just how beholden the Labor Party and PM Albanese are to the big corporations that control them.

‘Whether it’s approving land clearing in Alcoa, climate-wrecking projects such as Woodside’s North West Shelf or condemning the unique and ancient Maugean Skate to extinction at the hands of the big salmon companies, there is no bar too low for PM Albanese and Labor to stoop,’ said Alistair Allan.

You can view the FOI document here.