Tasmanian salmon farming expansion on hold as state Liberals order review ahead of parliament showdown

The Liberals’ concession on salmon folllows the revelation last week that an endemic bacteria which caused an unprecedented mass mortality event last summer, was again present at elevated levels at salmon farms south of Hobart. Photograph: Kim Shapley/Alamy

The Tasmanian Liberal party has promised a pause on salmon farm expansion and an independent review of the industry as it attempts to win support from crossbench MPs and survive a no-confidence motion in the state parliament this week.

In a concession to independent MPs critical of the operation of salmon farms in public waterways, the premier, Jeremy Rockliff, on Sunday said he supported the industry but that it was “on notice” after a mass mortality event last summer, and it must “operate transparently and responsibly and meet its obligations to the community”.