Latest news with #Tassal
Sydney Morning Herald
06-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Tarnished Tassal brand targets WA barramundi
Embattled global fish farmer Tassal's proposal for a mega barramundi sea cage operation north of Broome comes promising jobs and fulfilment of market demand. It would also bring up to 50 tonnes of dead fish in landfill a week, the 'smothering' of coral and potential spread of disease and pollution through a marine park. Canadian-owned Tassal Group, Australia's largest seafood producer, recently bailed out the previously loss-making enterprise, acquiring from administration a relatively small, 32-cage operation in the Kimberley's Cone Bay, a zone previously sanctioned for aquaculture as less sensitive than the rest of the region. Now the company proposes to expand across 50 kilometres of more sensitive areas in the Malaya Marine Park, part of the National Heritage-listed Buccaneer Archipelago, with 84 cages across seven sites, ultimately holding up to 17,500 tonnes of fish. Broome-based conservation group Environs Kimberley's submission to the WA environment watchdog regarding the proposal has now emerged, highlighting details of the proposal from Tassal, just as the company faces escalating controversy over the $1.8 billion salmon sea cage industry in Tasmania, where it operates alongside Huon and Petuna. Salmon farming in Tasmania has been blamed for antibiotics leaking into the food chain, algal blooms, endangered species impacts, mass fish escapes and finally an unprecedented kill of one million fish in April, resulting in erosion of consumer trust and revocation of RSPCA animal welfare certification. Escalating 'salmon wars' played a key role in the 2025 federal election and the GoodFish guide has told shoppers to reject Tasmanian farmed salmon. The WA sea cages proposed would be within the proposed general use zone of the marine park, which allows for aquaculture, but some would be close to sanctuary and cultural use zones. Tassal, promising 140 jobs from the operation, aims to achieve no more than 15 per cent fish mortality, equalling up to 2625 tonnes of dead fish per annum, or 50 tonnes a week. Tassal says it is exploring a number of 'mortality programs' for WA. One involves mincing the fish and stabilising it with formic acid for livestock feed, a common global practice, with processing done in Derby. The other option is landfill in Derby. Also, in the event of a 'mass mortality' all stock would be transferred to a licensed Derby landfill. The risks Tassal's documents identify the major risks as: Fish waste and uneaten feed settling on the sea-floor causing algal blooms and water deoxygenation around the sites. 'Smothering and/or shading' of the sea floor and the coral reefs fringing the archipelago's islands, models predicting losses of 1-16 per cent of coral reefs around some islands. Potential algal growth around the reefs, affecting coral and reducing marine life, possibly affecting the Malaya people's hunting practices Net damage from predators or weather events causing fish escapes, with possible 'significant impact on native barramundi' from swiftly spreading, generally fatal pests and diseases, or changes in their genetics. The greatest risks were 'generally from bacteria' (the cause of the Tasmanian fish kill) usually associated with hot temperatures or the rapid salinity changes common to the wet season. Vessel strike, noise and vibrations in a globally significant hotspot and refuge for sawfish, rays and sharks, critically endangered sea snakes and sea turtles The pens causing an artificial reef effect that could attract other fauna, and therefore predators, leading to the predators' entanglement. Tassal was unable to comprehensively survey the Buccaneer Archipelago area and so while it was unsure about whether the area's marine turtles nested near its sites, there was a possibility light pollution would disorient turtle hatchlings en route to the ocean. Tassal wrote of its rigorous testing and vaccination program in which imported hatchlings had to be disease free to a '95 per cent degree of confidence', and said it avoided 'where possible' managing outbreaks with chemicals, except in 'extreme cases'. It acknowledged a dugong hotspot was near the proposal area with little known about important feeding, breeding or movement areas. It noted the three of the proposed sea cage sites fell within a biologically important area for nursing, calving and resting for the largest population of humpback whales in the world. The whole area was also important habitat for Australian snubfin, Australian humpback and spotted bottlenose dolphins. Tassal also said in a statement to this masthead that the project was an exciting opportunity for the Kimberley and with it came a commitment to grow local jobs and invest in local suppliers and communities, while sustainably managing the environment. The elephant in the room Environs Kimberley is concerned Tassal's proposal fails to list climate change as a risk in a region recently hit by coral-bleaching marine heatwaves. They say warming oceans, severe weather and reduced ecosystem resilience will make it hard to avoid significant 'unplanned' impacts including fish kills, infrastructure damage, escapes and diseases. Executive director Martin Pritchard said Tassal's document glossed over the 220,000 barramundi killed at the existing Cone Bay operation in 2019, only noting the cause: an algal bloom caused by a combination of warm seas, warm air and pollution flushed by rain from rivers to the sea. In naming this cause it cited a report into the incident commissioned by and for the previous operator, which was not publicly released. Environs Kimberley voiced a 'strong concern' that the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, as primary regulator, was 'an active promoter of sea cage fish farming' and did not investigate the 2019 fish kill, perceiving a conflict of interest, especially as WA Premier Roger Cook last year called the Tassal plan 'great news' and awarded the company a $5 million incentive. The department's Fisheries and Aquaculture executive director Nathan Harrison said after the 2019 Cone Bay fish kill, its testing confirmed the cause of death to be the algal bloom, so further investigation was not required. 'DPIRD continues to closely monitor and respond to environmental changes that affect fisheries and aquaculture, including marine heatwaves,' he said. WA Environmental Protection Authority chair Darren Walsh visited the region last month as part of the public environmental review. He said the proponent would be required to address all relevant issues raised during the public review. The EPA expected to publish those responses by the end of the year. Pritchard said the landfilling aspect was also concerning. 'Which facilities in Derby have the capacity and appropriate licencing to safely dispose of this quantity of dead and rotting fish, let alone huge quantities arising from a mass death event?' he said. He said the impacts and risks of intensive industry should not be spread across wide areas of a globally significant and unique marine park. He said Tassal downplayed the potential impacts but it was evident some level of pollution was expected and the risks were unacceptable, especially when heightened by climate change, and in the context of Tassal's track record in Tasmania. 'Because of its remoteness, high tides, fast currents, narrow channels and cyclones, if there is a major event like mass fish escape or mass disease and death event, it will be logistically very difficult to address,' he said. He said this proposal was one of several industrial projects under way or proposed in the Buccaneer Archipelago, representing the potential for significant, cumulative, long-term impacts. Environs Kimberley submitted to the watchdog that such industries should be on land, close to population centres, as with barramundi farming in the Northern Territory, so impacts could be contained and rapid support provided during incidents. A Tassal spokesperson said the company removed around 400 hectares from the proposal previously submitted by the past operators, recognising concerns of traditional owners and recreational fishers. 'If approved, we will grow the operations cautiously and sustainably, in line with market demands,' they said. 'We are proud and humbled to have secured the consent for the project via a voluntary Indigenous Land Use Agreement … we welcome the passion for the local environment from groups like Environs Kimberley, something we share, and hope they'll take up our offer to engage with us directly on this project.' They supplied a document outlining why barramundi was considered a climate-resilient aquaculture species. The Shire of Derby/West Kimberley acknowledged the public interest in the proposal and said it had confidence in the EPA process and was engaging with the regulator to better understand the project. Loading 'The shire would work with Tassal to assess and potentially accommodate waste disposal; however, if the volumes were beyond the capacity of local infrastructure, alternative arrangements would need to be found,' it stated. In December, before the Tasmanian fish kill, in giving consent to enter into the Indigenous Land Use Agreement, Mayala traditional owners said they felt Tassal would be able to manage any environmental issues. Mayala Inninalang Aboriginal Corporation was contacted for updated comment. The federal environment department is running its own public environment review parallel to the state process, with a public comment period yet to open.
The Age
06-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
Tarnished Tassal brand targets WA barramundi
Embattled global fish farmer Tassal's proposal for a mega barramundi sea cage operation north of Broome comes promising jobs and fulfilment of market demand. It would also bring up to 50 tonnes of dead fish in landfill a week, the 'smothering' of coral and potential spread of disease and pollution through a marine park. Canadian-owned Tassal Group, Australia's largest seafood producer, recently bailed out the previously loss-making enterprise, acquiring from administration a relatively small, 32-cage operation in the Kimberley's Cone Bay, a zone previously sanctioned for aquaculture as less sensitive than the rest of the region. Now the company proposes to expand across 50 kilometres of more sensitive areas in the Malaya Marine Park, part of the National Heritage-listed Buccaneer Archipelago, with 84 cages across seven sites, ultimately holding up to 17,500 tonnes of fish. Broome-based conservation group Environs Kimberley's submission to the WA environment watchdog regarding the proposal has now emerged, highlighting details of the proposal from Tassal, just as the company faces escalating controversy over the $1.8 billion salmon sea cage industry in Tasmania, where it operates alongside Huon and Petuna. Salmon farming in Tasmania has been blamed for antibiotics leaking into the food chain, algal blooms, endangered species impacts, mass fish escapes and finally an unprecedented kill of one million fish in April, resulting in erosion of consumer trust and revocation of RSPCA animal welfare certification. Escalating 'salmon wars' played a key role in the 2025 federal election and the GoodFish guide has told shoppers to reject Tasmanian farmed salmon. The WA sea cages proposed would be within the proposed general use zone of the marine park, which allows for aquaculture, but some would be close to sanctuary and cultural use zones. Tassal, promising 140 jobs from the operation, aims to achieve no more than 15 per cent fish mortality, equalling up to 2625 tonnes of dead fish per annum, or 50 tonnes a week. Tassal says it is exploring a number of 'mortality programs' for WA. One involves mincing the fish and stabilising it with formic acid for livestock feed, a common global practice, with processing done in Derby. The other option is landfill in Derby. Also, in the event of a 'mass mortality' all stock would be transferred to a licensed Derby landfill. The risks Tassal's documents identify the major risks as: Fish waste and uneaten feed settling on the sea-floor causing algal blooms and water deoxygenation around the sites. 'Smothering and/or shading' of the sea floor and the coral reefs fringing the archipelago's islands, models predicting losses of 1-16 per cent of coral reefs around some islands. Potential algal growth around the reefs, affecting coral and reducing marine life, possibly affecting the Malaya people's hunting practices Net damage from predators or weather events causing fish escapes, with possible 'significant impact on native barramundi' from swiftly spreading, generally fatal pests and diseases, or changes in their genetics. The greatest risks were 'generally from bacteria' (the cause of the Tasmanian fish kill) usually associated with hot temperatures or the rapid salinity changes common to the wet season. Vessel strike, noise and vibrations in a globally significant hotspot and refuge for sawfish, rays and sharks, critically endangered sea snakes and sea turtles The pens causing an artificial reef effect that could attract other fauna, and therefore predators, leading to the predators' entanglement. Tassal was unable to comprehensively survey the Buccaneer Archipelago area and so while it was unsure about whether the area's marine turtles nested near its sites, there was a possibility light pollution would disorient turtle hatchlings en route to the ocean. Tassal wrote of its rigorous testing and vaccination program in which imported hatchlings had to be disease free to a '95 per cent degree of confidence', and said it avoided 'where possible' managing outbreaks with chemicals, except in 'extreme cases'. It acknowledged a dugong hotspot was near the proposal area with little known about important feeding, breeding or movement areas. It noted the three of the proposed sea cage sites fell within a biologically important area for nursing, calving and resting for the largest population of humpback whales in the world. The whole area was also important habitat for Australian snubfin, Australian humpback and spotted bottlenose dolphins. Tassal also said in a statement to this masthead that the project was an exciting opportunity for the Kimberley and with it came a commitment to grow local jobs and invest in local suppliers and communities, while sustainably managing the environment. The elephant in the room Environs Kimberley is concerned Tassal's proposal fails to list climate change as a risk in a region recently hit by coral-bleaching marine heatwaves. They say warming oceans, severe weather and reduced ecosystem resilience will make it hard to avoid significant 'unplanned' impacts including fish kills, infrastructure damage, escapes and diseases. Executive director Martin Pritchard said Tassal's document glossed over the 220,000 barramundi killed at the existing Cone Bay operation in 2019, only noting the cause: an algal bloom caused by a combination of warm seas, warm air and pollution flushed by rain from rivers to the sea. In naming this cause it cited a report into the incident commissioned by and for the previous operator, which was not publicly released. Environs Kimberley voiced a 'strong concern' that the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, as primary regulator, was 'an active promoter of sea cage fish farming' and did not investigate the 2019 fish kill, perceiving a conflict of interest, especially as WA Premier Roger Cook last year called the Tassal plan 'great news' and awarded the company a $5 million incentive. The department's Fisheries and Aquaculture executive director Nathan Harrison said after the 2019 Cone Bay fish kill, its testing confirmed the cause of death to be the algal bloom, so further investigation was not required. 'DPIRD continues to closely monitor and respond to environmental changes that affect fisheries and aquaculture, including marine heatwaves,' he said. WA Environmental Protection Authority chair Darren Walsh visited the region last month as part of the public environmental review. He said the proponent would be required to address all relevant issues raised during the public review. The EPA expected to publish those responses by the end of the year. Pritchard said the landfilling aspect was also concerning. 'Which facilities in Derby have the capacity and appropriate licencing to safely dispose of this quantity of dead and rotting fish, let alone huge quantities arising from a mass death event?' he said. He said the impacts and risks of intensive industry should not be spread across wide areas of a globally significant and unique marine park. He said Tassal downplayed the potential impacts but it was evident some level of pollution was expected and the risks were unacceptable, especially when heightened by climate change, and in the context of Tassal's track record in Tasmania. 'Because of its remoteness, high tides, fast currents, narrow channels and cyclones, if there is a major event like mass fish escape or mass disease and death event, it will be logistically very difficult to address,' he said. He said this proposal was one of several industrial projects under way or proposed in the Buccaneer Archipelago, representing the potential for significant, cumulative, long-term impacts. Environs Kimberley submitted to the watchdog that such industries should be on land, close to population centres, as with barramundi farming in the Northern Territory, so impacts could be contained and rapid support provided during incidents. A Tassal spokesperson said the company removed around 400 hectares from the proposal previously submitted by the past operators, recognising concerns of traditional owners and recreational fishers. 'If approved, we will grow the operations cautiously and sustainably, in line with market demands,' they said. 'We are proud and humbled to have secured the consent for the project via a voluntary Indigenous Land Use Agreement … we welcome the passion for the local environment from groups like Environs Kimberley, something we share, and hope they'll take up our offer to engage with us directly on this project.' They supplied a document outlining why barramundi was considered a climate-resilient aquaculture species. The Shire of Derby/West Kimberley acknowledged the public interest in the proposal and said it had confidence in the EPA process and was engaging with the regulator to better understand the project. Loading 'The shire would work with Tassal to assess and potentially accommodate waste disposal; however, if the volumes were beyond the capacity of local infrastructure, alternative arrangements would need to be found,' it stated. In December, before the Tasmanian fish kill, in giving consent to enter into the Indigenous Land Use Agreement, Mayala traditional owners said they felt Tassal would be able to manage any environmental issues. Mayala Inninalang Aboriginal Corporation was contacted for updated comment. The federal environment department is running its own public environment review parallel to the state process, with a public comment period yet to open.
ABC News
26-04-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Federal election 2025 live: PM quizzed on negative gearing as Dutton refuses to reveal 2035 emissions target
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has touched down in Tasmania in the marginal Liberal seat of Bass after visiting Melbourne. Earlier, Mr Albanese was quizzed about whether Labor would make changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax if elected. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has spent the morning in the Far North Queensland seat of Leichhardt where he refused to outline his 2035 emissions reduction target. Follow all the updates from the campaign trail live. And if you want to explore how your views compare to parties and candidates, check out our Key Events 37m ago 37 minutes ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 4:36am 2h ago 2 hours ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 2:56am 3h ago 3 hours ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 1:36am Show all key events Submit a comment or question Log in to comment Live updates Latest Oldest 13m ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 5:00am The rugged seat of Braddon J By Joshua Boscaini Covering some of the most regional and remote parts of Tassie, Braddon is known to swing between the Labor and Liberal parties. The winning party is usually the party that best caters to jobs in the area. One of the big topics in the area is salmon farming and the debate on whether or not it's good for the area continues to rage on. (Supplied: Tassal) Kerrie Laffer , a long-time local in the town of Zeehan hopes healthcare will be at the top of the promises list. "We need more medical facilities…we need specialists that travel down, or transport for people that don't drive [to be more available]," Laffer says. You can read more about it React React 26m ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 4:47am The (very) marginal seat of Gilmore S By Sinead Mangan and regional reporters for Australia Wide At the last election there was just 373 votes splitting the difference in Gilmore and it looks like it may go the same way for the election next month. The main political football in the area is renewable energy and wind farms , with large companies pulling out of offshore wind developments after locals opposed the projects being put forward. Like most of the country rental stress is also a big worry for the region with rents being some of the highest in the country, aside from Sydney. The use of Air BnBs and short-term rentals in Gilmore are also playing a hand in the rental woes for residents. You can read more here: React React Key Event 37m ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 4:36am Peter Dutton arrives in Darwin E By Evelyn Manfield, on the trail with Dutton The Liberal campaign has flown into Darwin , which in typical dry season fashion, is serving some serious sunshine. The Northern Territory is a super interesting spot this election. It's only got two seats in the House of Representatives, which are both Labor-held, but they both could be worth keeping an eye on next Saturday. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore) Lingiari is the more marginal of the two, but we're in Solomon , which Labor holds by 8.4 per cent . We're expecting this visit to focus on cost of living pressures and crime. Crime in particular was a primary focus of the CLP's territory election campaign last year that saw Lia Finocchiaro sweep to victory. She'll be meeting Dutton here. React React 52m ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 4:21am Voters cast their ballots at Old Parliament House pre-poll centre J By Joshua Boscaini Hundreds of voters have streamed into the pre-poll centre at Old Parliament House in Canberra to cast their vote. We're expecting some updated figures from the Australian Electoral Commission a little later today about how many Australians have voted so far. (ABC News: Joel Wilson) (ABC News: Joel Wilson) (ABC News: Joel Wilson) (ABC News: Joel Wilson) React React 1h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 4:06am Could childcare decide who wins or loses Wannon? J By Joshua Boscaini Childcare services are a hot topic in the electorate of Wannon . The region could be called a "childcare desert" with only one space for every three children in the community. Parents are sitting on waiting lists for years to get a spot for their children so they can get back to work. (AAP) Courtney Finnegan put her three-year-old son's name down before he was born, but he didn't get a spot till he was 15 months old. Now she needs three places with twins on the way. "I put my name on the list even earlier this time since it's twins," Finnegan says. "Needing two spots at once is a bit nerve wracking." You can read more about it React React 1h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 3:45am PM serves up snags to Labor volunteers in Tasmania N By National affairs correspondent Jane Norman (ABC News: Brendan Esposito) Anthony Albanese is on the (BBQ) tools, on a flying visit to Launceston in the ultra marginal Liberal-held seat of Bass . After serving up a bunch of snags, the PM revved up the crowd of Labor supporters, urging them to dig deep over the next seven days. (ABC News: Brendan Esposito) "Don't leave anything in the tank!" he urged them. "Knock on doors, make the phone calls, have a conversion with your neighbours and your friends. "I assure you that's what I'll be doing! We'll keep going hard all the way up to 6pm next Saturday." (ABC News: Brendan Esposito) Bass is one of three marginal seats in Tasmania that has a tendency of swinging from one party to the other at each election. Ahead of polling day, Albanese is sharpening the contrast between himself and Peter Dutton warning the Coalition will take Australia to destination of cuts and chaos "with no coherent plan". React React 1h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 3:25am Greens want aged pension eligibility age reduced to 65 J By Joshua Boscaini The Greens say they will push to reduce the aged pension eligibility age from 67 to 65 in the next term of parliament. In 2009, the former Rudd Labor government legislated to raise the pension eligibility age to 67. Greens leader Adam Bandt says the changes would make a difference to older Australians who are struggling with the cost of living. "It's where the retirement age used to be. We know that too many people are finding themselves in poverty at the end of their life after working hard all your like," Bandt says. "This is a very practical thing the government could do that would see our older people who've been working hard all their lives given an extra $18,000 a year." He says it would cost Australians $3 billion per year , and says the funds could come from taxing corporations. React React 1h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 3:24am PM says people from Gaza don't need to be re-screened J By Joshua Boscaini The prime minister has been asked whether he would take in more people fleeing Gaza and whether there's any merit to re-screening those who have already have arrived. He says everyone who has arrived in Australia from Gaza has been through screening. "Everyone who is here has been through screening, not just by our country, but also of course because of the nature of people getting out of Gaza, they had to go through security checks of Israel as well," he says. Asked if he would allow more people from Gaza into Australia, he says the government can't at the moment. React React Key Event 2h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 2:56am Coalition seizes on report Albanese knew of Russian request to base bombers in Indonesia A By Andrew Thorpe Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister David Coleman and Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie have leapt on Anthony Albanese acknowledged Indonesia did receive a request from Russia to base military aircraft — reportedly long-range bombers — in the country. If you're not sure why that's so significant, you may want to have a read of in an attempt to sum up the saga. Albanese earlier today However, Hastie and Coleman have labelled the PM's reported comments a "stunning backflip" and called him out for likening the opposition's requests for a briefing on the issue to asking for a briefing on who faked the moon landing. "The government needs to stop mocking the concerns of Australians who are worried about apparent attempts to establish a Russian military presence 1,300 kilometres from our territory ," Coleman and Hastie wrote in a joint press release. "The questions [the government] must answer are: When did it become aware of Russia's request? Was it before or after React React 2h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 2:38am In pictures: Albanese and Dutton jet into key seats J By Joshua Boscaini Let's take a look back at some of the photo opportunities from both Anthony Albanese's visit to Chisholm and Peter Dutton's stop in Leichhardt. (ABC News: Brendan Esposito) (ABC News: Brendan Esposito) (ABC News: Ian Cutmore) (ABC News: Ian Cutmore) React React 2h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 2:22am Leichhardt 'critical' for the Coalition, Dutton says E By Evelyn Manfield, on the trail with Dutton (ABC News: Ian Cutmore) After a breakfast with supporters and a press conference inside a medical clinic, Peter Dutton quickly swung past a construction site to announce a $34 million commitment for road infrastructure to support new housing. Party faithful at the breakfast earlier said housing was a big issue facing locals. He's also promised to set up a new technical college in Cairns to get young people into trades earlier, plus Commonwealth-supported positions to train new doctors in the area. Dutton said earlier this morning maintaining Leichhardt was "critical" to the LNP forming government. After a few hours out and about this morning, we're now flying to our next destination. React React 2h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 2:14am What we know about the new electorate Bullwinkel J By Joshua Boscaini WA's Bullwinkel electorate will be contested for the first time this election. Having only been created last year, the electorate covers Perth's outer east with the rural Avon Valley . Farmers in the seat of Bullwinkel in WA want to see Labor's plan to stop live exports reversed. (ABC News) The change in the boundaries created a really interesting mix of points of views all in the one seat! There are live sheep exporters clashing with tree change folk living in the east of Perth. Sheep, tourism and grain growing are all big deals in this electorate. One of the main issues is the phase out of the live export trade by 2028. Protests around the electorate call for "keep the sheep" with signs on rubbish bins, fences and even socks. Sheep farmer Peter Boyle says his family doesn't want to leave the industry. "It's all a lot of money tied up and so and a lot of knowledge and wisdom tied up as well, and that's all going to go out the door," he says. You can read more about it here: React React 3h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 2:11am A quick recap of what we learnt from Peter Dutton's press conference A By Andrew Thorpe Let's take a quick look back at some of the main points that emerged from Peter Dutton 's press conference in Cairns . The opposition leader was Leichhardt candidate Jeremy Neal , who he says has a "deep understanding" of the local community; he believes Treasurer Jim Chalmers the Coalition is confident it can Dutton was unable or unwilling to nuclear reactors that won't be operational by then; Jeremy Neal said he no longer supports Donald Trump as a result of asked about yesterday's Anzac Day ceremonies are a "sacrosanct part of our culture" that Neal believes Far North Queenslanders React React 3h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 1:43am That's a wrap on Peter Dutton's press conference A By Andrew Thorpe (ABC News: Ian Cutmore) The final question for the opposition leader is a short one: "Do you support "That's a decision for Linda. Thank you very much," he responds. React React 3h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 1:41am What percentage of Dutton's migration cuts will come from working visas? A By Andrew Thorpe Asked what percentage of his proposed migration cuts will consist of people on working visas — Cairns being highly reliant on working holidaymakers — Dutton launches into a defence of the Coalition's housing policies, the concept of home ownership and his proposal to halve the fuel excise. Pressed to provide a specific figure, he says the Coalition will look at the advice from Treasury and central agencies once it gets into government. React React Key Event 3h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 1:36am Far North Queenslanders don't care about my previous tweets, Jeremy Neal says A By Andrew Thorpe A reporter attempts to ask short questions of both Jeremy Neal and Peter Dutton , but the opposition leader steps in to ensure the reporter limits herself to a single question. "Mr Neal, do you still hold the view that feminists kicked out Trump?" she says, choosing to quiz the Leichhhardt candidate. "Those tweets are long deleted," he says — which is, of course, not quite a direct answer. "The focus for me is the cost of living in Far North Queensland, and crime," he says. "The people of Far North Queensland aren't worried about the previous tweets I made." (ABC News: Ian Cutmore) React React 3h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 1:33am Have the Liberals given up on winning any seats in Canberra? A By Andrew Thorpe Dutton is asked about the Liberal Party's lead ACT Senate candidate, Jacob Vadakkedathu , who was The ACT's two Senate seats are held by Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and popular independent David Pocock , while all three House of Representative seats in the territory are in Labor hands. "Have the Liberals given up on getting back any seats in Canberra?" the reporter asks. "I think there are people in Canberra , in Eden-Monaro , and elsewhere, that are really concerned about the cost of living under Labor," Dutton replies. "We can't afford to see negative gearing abolition , which would impact a lot of wealthy people in Canberra who have negative-geared properties." React React 3h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 1:24am Dutton says people should 'respect' event organisers' choices on Welcome to Country ceremonies A By Andrew Thorpe A reporter asks Dutton about the at yesterday's Anzac Day dawn service in Melbourne — specifically his stance on the ceremonies going forward, given his Indigenous Australians spokesperson, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price , has previously called them divisive. "Do you think they're divisive and do you still want to drop having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags in official backdrops as you said earlier this year?" the reporter asks. Dutton calls Anzac Day ceremonies "a sacrosanct part of our culture" that should not be the place for political statements "or anything other than respect". "We should condemn those bad actions," he says. He adds that if an event's organiser decides there should be a Welcome to Country , then "people should respect that". Regarding his press conference flags, Dutton reiterates his earler reasoning that as prime minister, he wants his country to be "united under one flag". "I want our country to be as good as it can be, and we can't be as good as we can be if we're separating people into different groupings," he says. React React 3h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 1:16am Has Dutton miscalculated his rhetoric on migrants? A By Andrew Thorpe The opposition leader is now asked about a Redbridge poll out today that puts Labor's support above 60 per cent among young Australians and diverse communities . "Are you concerned that you've miscalculated your rhetoric on migrants?" the reporter asks. Dutton doesn't answer directly, let alone engage with the premise of the question. Instead, he says "there's a very different conversation" going on when his campaign travels around the country, including in outer-metropolitan electorates (where large migrant communities tend to be situated). Pressed on whether demographics will be a problem for his campaign — with Gen X and millennial voters now outnumbering baby boomers — he returns to safer ground. "The aspiration within migrant communities, small business owners, people who are investing — they're worried about an unrealised capital gains tax Labor's imposing," he says. React React Key Event 4h ago Sat 26 Apr 2025 at 1:09am Tariffs 'left a sour taste' in mouth of Liberal candidate who once supported Trump A By Andrew Thorpe (ABC News: Ian Cutmore) Liberal candidate Jeremy Neal is asked a question directly this time. "Back on to your past social media posts — how much of a Trump supporter are you?" a reporter asks him. Neal begins his answer with what seems like a complete non-sequitur — "Oh, we've got some very good industry up here, particularly in beef and aluminium" — but it's soon apparent he's upset about the effect of the US president's tariffs . "I support Far North Queensland, and making sure those industries can thrive," he says. "Those views are a very long time ago, and they were deleted a very long time ago ." So he doesn't support Donald Trump anymore? "No, the tariffs have really left a sour taste in my mouth," he says. React React Show more posts
