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Visit for nothing or a prime minister eager to show he keeps his word? What will Tasmanians make of Anthony Albanese’s west coast trip?

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived in Strahan on Saturday.   (Supplied: Bob Brown Foundation)

For the second week running, a national leader waded into the murky political waters of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.

But unlike Liberal leader Peter Dutton, who vowed to allow salmon farming in the harbour to continue even if the endangered Maugean skate's threatened species status is upgraded to critically endangered, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese didn't come with any big statements.

Visit for nothing or a prime minister eager to show he keeps his word? What will Tasmanians make of Anthony Albanese's west coast trip?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (centre) speaks with West Coast Council Mayor Shane Pitt (far left).  (ABC News: Glenn Dickson)

Dutton backs salmon farming even if threatened species status worsens

Photo shows Protesters on the water at an anti-salmon farming rally in Tasmania.

Visit for nothing or a prime minister eager to show he keeps his word? What will Tasmanians make of Anthony Albanese's west coast trip?

A Coalition government would not ban salmon farming in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour even if the Maugean skate's threatened species' status is upgraded to "critically endangered", Peter Dutton says.

He notably preferred to deflect conversation away from Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, who is deciding whether to review salmon farming operations in the harbour.

Instead, Mr Albanese — who toured the harbour with salmon giant Tassal — was big on statements of support for the industry.

"We'll do what's necessary to support jobs here, and we want to make sure that these jobs are able to continue," he told reporters on Saturday.

"We know that the laws are there that have to be complied with. The environment minister must comply with them, otherwise they'll be subject to legal challenge."

So, why did the prime minister come to Macquarie Harbour if he couldn't, or wouldn't, deliver a decision?

Visit for nothing or a prime minister eager to show he keeps his word? What will Tasmanians make of Anthony Albanese's west coast trip?

The Bob Brown Foundation wants fish farming removed completely from the harbour. (Supplied: Bob Brown Foundation)

From his point of view, he was delivering on a promise made to West Coast Mayor Shane Pitt, and the local community.

After months of asking the prime minister to visit, Cr Pitt secured a commitment that Mr Albanese would visit Macquarie Harbour, and the workers who work on it, by the end of the year.

By following through, Mr Albanese claims he's demonstrating his commitment to jobs, but also to a community that's found itself entangled in a hot-button political issue on the eve of an election.

Decision on salmon farms looms

Locals at a Christmas function sponsored by the salmon industry on Saturday night appreciated that sentiment, but were unequivocal that a decision ending the uncertainty needed to come soon.

And it's those views that matter as the prime minister tries to win next year's federal election, not the predictable responses from groups on either side of the salmon debate.

Greens senator Nick McKim accused Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton of being in a "race to the bottom of Macquarie Harbour", by not immediately pushing for salmon farms to leave the harbour in order to protect the Maugean skate.

Meanwhile, Tasmanian Resources Minister Eric Abetz called Mr Albanese the "Grinch who stole Christmas from the people of Strahan" by not promising to allow operations to continue at their current level.

It's worth pointing out, the Opposition Leader hasn't delivered that promise either.

Visit for nothing or a prime minister eager to show he keeps his word? What will Tasmanians make of Anthony Albanese's west coast trip?

Industrial salmon farming is a key employer for the region but is heavily criticised for its environmental impact on the harbour. (ABC News: Bec Pridham)

Despite Mr Dutton's statements that farming operations will continue even if the skate's threatened species status is uplisted, he's yet to comment on what he'll do with the environmental groups' request for a review, or whether he'll overturn any recommendation for operations to be reduced or paused.

Mr Albanese says that's because they're commitments Mr Dutton can't make.

"The government of the day has to comply with the law otherwise the law intervenes, it's not a matter of convenience, the law applies," he said on Sunday.

A focus on marginal seats

Whether the visit, and Mr Albanese's words of support, can win over enough voters for Labor to hang onto the ultra-marginal neighbouring seat of Lyons might not be known until election day.

It's the same pro-jobs sentiment he's relying on to win a swag of regional, marginal seats across the country, where polling suggests Labor is in trouble.

That helps to explain the importance of Lyons, and the frequency of Mr Albanese's Tasmanian visits.

Visit for nothing or a prime minister eager to show he keeps his word? What will Tasmanians make of Anthony Albanese's west coast trip?

On Sunday, former teacher Jess Teesdale was announced as Labor's candidate for the marginal seat of Bass. (ABC News: Glenn Dickson)

He's also insistent Labor can win back Braddon and Bass — held by the Liberals by 8 and 1.4 per cent respectively — although they're much harder propositions.

Whether his party can climb those huge hills might well be decided by how voters perceive Mr Albanese's handling of the salmon furore, and whether they trust him to keep his word.

Visit for nothing or a prime minister eager to show he keeps his word? What will Tasmanians make of Anthony Albanese's west coast trip?

Anthony Albanese says he'll support the region's salmon industry, but will also comply with environmental laws should aquaculture licences be reassessed in the harbour. (Supplied: Tassal)

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