Australian Senator Uses Dead Fish to Protest Salmon Farm Bill in Parliament

In a dramatic moment during parliamentary proceedings on Wednesday, Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young pulled out a dead salmon in the Senate chamber to protest a new bill supporting controversial salmon farms in Tasmania.

The proposed legislation aims to safeguard salmon farming in the heritage-listed Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania's west coast. It’s currently being debated in the Senate and is likely to pass during the final days of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government before the general elections, expected by May.

Accusations of Environmental Betrayal

During question time, Hanson-Young accused the Labor government of “gutting” environmental safeguards to favor a “toxic, polluting salmon industry.” She held up a dead fish inside a plastic bag while confronting Labor Senator Jenny McAllister, who represents the Environment Minister in the Senate.

“On the eve of the election, have you sold out your environmental credentials for a rotten, stinking extinction salmon?” she asked.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young just pulled out a very large dead salmon in the Senate in a protest over the environmental laws and salmon farming ???? pic.twitter.com/GEfCFNC7vs

— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) March 26, 2025

Senate President Sue Lines quickly asked her to remove the fish, referring to it as a “prop,” after which McAllister responded, “My view is Australians deserve better from their public representative than stunts.”

Jobs vs. Environmental Protection

The proposed laws aim to ensure the continuity of salmon farming operations in Macquarie Harbour. The Albanese-led Labor government argues the move is crucial for preserving local jobs in Tasmania’s seafood industry.

However, environmentalists and the Greens party have voiced strong opposition. They point to increasing evidence of nutrient and chemical pollution linked to salmon farming, which they argue threatens marine ecosystems and species like the endangered Maugean skate—a rare fish species found only in Macquarie and Bathurst Harbours.

Public Scrutiny and Legal Challenges

One of the most controversial aspects of the bill is its potential to restrict public challenges to environmental approvals for salmon farming. Critics argue this limits accountability and weakens legal avenues for environmental protection.

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