The changes to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act were endorsed by the Labor caucus on Monday, despite private reservations from some MPs.

A dead salmon in the Senate

McAllister said Australia should be able to publicly debate environment laws, but that was “very difficult when every contribution to the debate from a party that claims to care about environmental outcomes and progress is underwritten by mistruths, misstatements and exaggerations”.

The Greens oppose the federal government’s proposed environment law reforms which are aimed at preserving Tasmania’s salmon farming industry Source: SBS News

Hanson-Young then said: “On the eve of an election, have you sold out your environmental credentials for a rotten, stinking extinction salmon”, before pulling out a large, dead fish wrapped in plastic.

McAllister said: “Australians deserve better from their public representatives than stunts.”

Greens senator confronts the PM

“This is the lowest point for me in my 14 years in the place.”

Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson has previously argued that Australian shoppers should be made aware of the environmental and ecological impacts of the Tasmanian Salmon industry. Source: AAP / LUKAS COCH/AAPIMAGE

Labor maintains the bill is necessary is necessary to protect Macquarie Harbour’s salmon farming industry, which provides full-time jobs for about 120 people according to Salmon Tasmania.

With reporting by the Australian Associated Press.