The aquaculture sector in Tasmania, Australia, has welcomed a move by the Liberal Party -- the federal opposition -- to limit the length of time for which business approvals can be left open for consultation to 36 months.

Senator Richard Colbeck's office has submitted the "Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation [EPBC] Amendment (Reconsideration of Decisions) Bill 2024," which fellow Liberal -- and minister for business, industry, and resources at state level, in the Tasmanian government -- Eric Abetz has welcomed.

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"The Federal Liberals' plan to provide much-needed certainty to Tasmanian jobs has been welcomed by the Tasmanian government," he said in a statement.

"It's ludicrous that environment groups were able to lobby Federal Environment Minister Plibersek to open up 11-year-old approvals for marine farming expansion in Macquarie Harbour for consultation, apparently casting doubt over any approval granted under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act."

"Senator Colbeck's proposed time frame of a 36-month window for requests for reconsideration to be made is sensible and would provide some much-needed certainty for regional economies like the West Coast. Critical decisions on mining and aquaculture are still gathering dust in Minister Plibersek's in-tray."

Salmon Tasmania also welcomed the plan, warning "cashed-up environmental activists" may yet still "further game the nation's flawed environmental laws in targeting the industry's operations in the southeast of Tasmania."

Salmon Tasmania CEO Luke Martin said he was in no doubt the review of the industry's operations in Macquarie Harbour was a "test case for further actions against the salmon aquaculture industry and other critical Tasmanian industries."

"Over 12 months ago, lawyers for the Bob Brown Foundation, Australia Institute and the Environmental Defenders Office wrote to minister Plibersek and triggered a long, drawn out and intense review into environmental approvals granted to our industry way back in 2012."

"That review continues still, causing tremendous uncertainty and anguish right across the North-West community, and in the process is writing the playbook for reviews into past EPBC decisions across our industry, or mining, or forestry, or tourism, or renewable energy. It's like the council reviewing your approval to build your house, a decade after you moved in!"

Martin said he agreed with the principles of senator Colbeck's proposed amendments, that there should be a reasonable timeframe for EPBC decisions to be challenged, and that third-party activist groups should not be able to appeal decisions. 

"Of course, there must be a process for governments and industries to respond when new information becomes available on a potential risk to the environment, but surely this should be based on the advice of regulators and scientists, not professional protestors."