Tasmanian EPA Director Refuses Real-Time Antibiotic Use Data for Salmon Farms

The director of Tasmania's environmental watchdog has refused to begin collecting real-time information on antibiotic use by salmon companies, in a fiery exchange with Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff.

In budget estimates hearings this morning, Environment Protection Authority (EPA) director Catherine Murdoch accused Dr Woodruff of launching "an attack on my integrity".

Ms Murdoch questioned whether it would be legal to collect the information, despite other government agencies already doing so, and suggested the figures could be "factually incorrect".

In November, Tasmania's salmon industry was granted an emergency permit by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to use florfenicol to treat a bacterial outbreak that had caused widespread deaths in salmon pens.

It was the first time the antibiotic, which is more commonly applied in land-based farming, had been used in Australian waters.

That permit was revoked in March this year after concerns about its spread into wild fish, and a committee this week heard it had been found in fish 14 kilometres away.

The total amount of florfenicol used in that period has not yet been publicly reported by the EPA, with reports for each lease only required within three months of the treatment ending.

The industry has already signalled it will seek a new permit to use florfenicol again.

Dr Woodruff told the budget estimates committee that salmon companies already informed other regulatory bodies in real time, including the APVMA and Biosecurity Tasmania.

"[Salmon companies] take bags of feed … that has been covered with florfenicol, and so they know how much has gone in," she said, asking why the EPA did not know those figures.

Ms Murdoch questioned whether the information provided by companies would be "factually correct", also saying the EPA did not need the information.

Dr Woodruff said the EPA had a "duty" to be transparent, as there was a void of information.

"Tasmanians with an absence of information don't know what to read and they read a whole range of confusing and sometimes incorrect things. So surely we want to prevent this happening by treating people with the respect that they deserve," she said.

Ms Murdoch took issue with this, and said her decisions would be based on science.

She told the committee the EPA's antibiotic-measuring regime was "timely" and done to the "best standards".

At least 3,610 kilograms of florfenicol was used at five salmon farms in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel over the summer.

However, the volume of the treatment at another four sites is not yet available.

In total, 9,000 tonnes of fish died this past summer, compared with 14,000 in the year before, when florfenicol was not used.

EPA questions legal basis for releasing the information

Dr Woodruff questioned why a clause in the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act, which allows the director to request any information as part of an environmental licence, had not been used to request antibiotic treatment volumes.

Along with questioning whether she needed the data, Ms Murdoch told the committee she was unsure it was legal to release it.

"I'm sure my legal people will tell me I still have to apply that clause and ensure that in doing so, I'm complying with other legislation as well," she said.

"Obviously, there is anti-competitive legislation, there's also RTI legislation … [and] I do have to comply with that legislation."

Ms Murdoch told the committee she needed to ensure there was a legal requirement for the data.

"There was no requirement for that. We are out of public interest producing these reports on the amount," she told the committee.

Salmon companies were required to report to the EPA their maximum potential treatments, but Ms Murdoch declined a request to release that data.

She said that in some cases, those figures had varied greatly compared with the final amount used.

"The ombudsman has clearly said to me, putting out factually incorrect [information] … is not in the public's interest," Ms Murdoch said.

Salmon mass deaths being investigated

During the bacterial outbreak 18 months ago, salmon carcasses and 'fat balls' washed up on beaches in the south of the state.

The Bob Brown Foundation cited it as proof "the industry has completely lost control of the disease outbreak".

In today's estimates hearing, independent MP Peter George asked if salmon companies would be hit with penalties for any regulatory breaches.

"In every other jurisdiction I've been in there is punishment, there are regulatory breaches that are prosecuted to reassure the public that the industry is held accountable," Mr George said.

Ms Murdoch told the committee it was being investigated, and that her legal team was "finalising [the] brief".

She said there was a time limit of three years to bring charges.