“Pack of Mongrels”. Politics beats extinction of Maugean Skate

A summary of decisions on the protection of the threatened Maugean Skate shows the Labor Government has put extinction second to politics. Transparency Warrior Rex Patrick reports.

The long-awaited briefing by the Department for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEW) has been published following an FOI challenge at the Administrative Review Tribunal.

MWM We can now reveal that DCCEEW’s summary of the decision suggests that the original decision allowing salmon farming should be revoked, but with an election looming, science will take second place to both vested interests and politics.

The Labor Government has twice refused to grant access to briefings under Freedom of Information laws. They lost this fight twice.

In March 2025, fully briefed by the Department on the right thing to do and supported by the Liberal Party, Labor passed a bill through Parliament restricting the Minister for Environment and Water’s ability to review past decisions under the EPBC Act to provide certainty to industries and communities.

The bill limited the time period for requests for reconsideration, especially after cases have been pending for five years.

This was a calculated move and a slap in the face to department officials who had worked diligently to reach the right conclusions.

This was a betrayal to Maugean Skate.

Maugean Skate – possible cause of extinction… election fever

Salmon farming waste

Salmon farming began with a very small-scale Australian-owned operation in Macquarie Harbor in the late 1980s. Over the years, the operation has expanded greatly through the takeover of large foreign-owned, non-tax-paying companies.

Scientists and environmentalists argue that their dramatically improved operations are dumping tons of antibiotics, chemicals, feed waste and feces into waterways, threatening the Maugean Skate with extinction.

In mid-2023, the Australia Institute, the Bob Brown Foundation and the Australian Marine Conservation Society formally requested a reconsideration of the 2012 EPBC Act decision allowing industrial-scale farming to occur.

In February 2025, a ‘summary of decision’ was given to the then Minister of Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek. As we can now explain, the summary said STOP!

DCCEEW had done its job. He consulted and met with a scientist and formed the opinion that the original decision allowing salmon farming should be rescinded.

Last hopes for Maugean Skate

North West Tasmania for Clean Oceans they’re fighting what’s going on in Federal Court right now. The case is well advanced, but MWM The court has no idea how to rule.

The few remaining Skates need not feel alone in their betrayal. They’re sharing this with whistleblowers, transparency advocates, and those who care about climate change.

Green’s Senator after Skate’s betrayal Peter Whish-Wilson cornered the Prime Minister “You are a pack of mongrels” he was shouting in front of the Houses of Parliament.

MWM contacted Whish-Wilson for its response to the summary judgment now released. “I feel justified in my words, and now I repeat: they are a herd of demigods.

They cannot be trusted with the environment.

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Rex Patrick is a former South Australian Senator and formerly a submariner in the armed forces. Known as an anti-corruption and transparency warrior, Rex is also known as “Transparency Warrior“