Keep the Sheep spokesman Ben Sutherland.

KEEP the Sheep campaigners have sided with Tasmanian salmon workers seeking to save their industry from activist-initiated opposition to the fishery in Macquarie Harbour on the state’s west coast.

In a move to align itself with industries impacted by activists nationally, the pro-live sheep export group has warned Tasmanian salmon workers to beware of the ‘sting in the tail’ of the Albanese Government, when it came to defending the rights of ordinary Australian workers over inner-city activist ideas.

The Macquarie Harbour fishery is under review by the Federal Government after environmental groups and monitoring raised concerns salmon farming was impacting the endangered Maugean skate.

The industry body Salmon Tasmania estimates Macquarie Harbour aquaculture supports 400 families and Deloitte research found the salmon industry is responsible for 17 percent of all employment in the West Coast and Latrobe local government areas, and salmon industry jobs pay upto 73.9pc more than the average jobs in these areas.

Macquarie Harbour is in the federal seat of Braddon held by Liberal MP Gavin Pearce, but the fishery’s employment importance means it could affect 2025 federal election voting in the adjacent seat of Lyons, held by a retiring Labor MP, and in the Liberal-held seat of Bass.

Reports that Prime Minister Albanese months earlier this year floated granting fish farms in Macquarie Harbour a “national interest exemption” from federal environmental laws last week prompted Tasmania’s Liberal premier Jeremy Rockliff to continue calls on the Federal Labor Government to end the uncertainty placed upon West Coast salmon workers.

Premier Rockliff said Tasmanians have had enough of the Federal Labor Party pandering to inner-city Green votes at the expense of regional communities.

“The Prime Minister must demonstrate leadership and provide certainty to West Coast families by Christmas.

“The PM’s offer of a short-term sugar hit to the salmon industry in the form of an exemption is not going to cut it for Tasmanian workers,” Premier Rockliff said.

“The Federal Government must grant full approval for salmon farming to continue in the Harbour, by Christmas.”

West Australian truckie and Keep the Sheep spokesman Ben Sutherland said the situation in Tasmania had obvious parallels with the experiences of the live export industry in Western Australia.

“Albanese and his Ministers are being led around by activists and not listening to people whose jobs are at stake,” he said.

“They sold out the West Australian sheep industry to appease inner city voters and we’re already feeling the effects – the ban is slowing down business and it’s hurting our truckies, farmers, shearers and regional towns.”

Mr Sutherland warned salmon workers that they would need to fight for their livelihoods to avoid the same fate as West Australians.

“The Labor Government doesn’t care about ordinary Australians who work hard for a living.

“They are captured by ideology and will disregard Tassie salmon workers and their rural communities, just like they did to WA farmers,” he said.

The campaign has said it would seek to reverse the ban on live exports of sheep by sea and called for agricultural industries to stand together against overreaching activism and lawfare.

“It’s clear the only way we’ll save our agricultural industries is to change the Government.

“That’s why we’re saying to Tasmanian salmon workers: we’re with you.”

Keep the Sheep pickets Perth train station opening

In Perth over the weekend, Keep the Sheep campaigners picketed the opening of the Ellenbrook train station by Prime Minister Albanese, until told to cease and desist, and move on, by the Perth Transport Authority.

Campaigner Holly Ludeman said Mr Albanese’s refusal to speak to the group and use of security to keep them away was disappointing.

“We wanted to let Albo and his MPs know that we won’t give up until the ban is reversed and this is just a taste of what Labor MPs can expect at the election.”

“We spoke with the police, who were supportive, and told them we would continue to be respectful. “All we want to see is the ban overturned,” Ms Ludeman said.

“We spoke with hundreds of Perth families, who understand that this ban is already hurting their country friends,” she said.