Wild moment Anthony Albanese is heckled as protestors disrupt press conference in Tasmania

Anthony Albanese has been heckled by environmental protesters. 

The Prime Minister was almost drowned out during a press conference in Sorrell, north east of Hobart in Tasmania, by demonstrators reportedly chanting ‘shame Albanese’. 

Mr Albanese, who had been unveiling Rebecca White as the candidate for marginal federal seat of Lyons, at first did not react to or address the handful protesters and instead stared forward in stony silence. 

But when the protesters, who were reportedly from the Bob Brown Foundation, then got close to the lectern the Prime Minister was forced to address them.

‘Good on you,’ he said, as they unfurled an enormous blue banner which said : ‘Save the Maugean Skate’, an endangered species in the area.

They then chanted: ‘keep your promise! No new extinctions!’ as Mr Albanese, Ms White and Agriculture Minister Julie Collins smiled awkwardly.

It was perhaps an odd time to protest given the Prime Minister had just pledged $28 million on efforts to improve water quality and environmental conditions at Macquarie Harbour.

It is a major salmon fishing ground and the only known home of the Maugean Skate, an endangered species so close to the protesters’ hearts.

Mr Albanese said Tasmania’s salmon industry was ‘the backbone of many regional communities and it’s essential we support the thousands of jobs it creates right across the state’. 

‘To do that it’s essential we have a sustainable industry which supports workers and the environment,’ he said.

‘That’s exactly what this will help to do, making sure we have a sustainable salmon industry and deliver stability for workers and their families into the future.’

To help offset harm to Macquarie Harbour’s health from human activities, $21m has been earmarked for scaling up oxygenation in the harbour.

A further $5m has been committed specifically to expanding the Maugean skate’s breeding program.

More to come.