Algal Bloom

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (17:15): Again, my question is to the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water. When did the Deputy Premier first receive correspondence in relation to the algal bloom crisis, and what was the Deputy Premier's response? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr BASHAM:The Australian reported on 14 August, I quote:

On April 7, a constituent wrote to Premier Peter Malinauskas contrasting the government's management of the bloom with its passion for major sporting events…The Premier's office referred the letter to the office of Environment Minister Susan Close, which in turn referred it to the office of Primary Industries Minister Claire Scriven, whose office said it was an environmental question and sent it back to Dr Close.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy) (17:16): You would think that the people on the other side have never been in government, but maybe that's because it hasn't happened all that much. My office has handled hundreds—I think it is getting near to 700 items of correspondence and documentation—associated with the algal bloom. Understandably.

Every so often someone will send an inquiry that comes to one minister or to the Premier and needs to be directed to one or more ministers to get an answer because we have different responsibilities. Every so often, and very rarely, but it does happen, one minister suggests that another—and I am saying 'minister'. I mean 'minister's office'. We are talking about administrative staff, who work extraordinarily hard in ministers' offices, who might direct it to another one and that one might think that there needed to be some answer included.

Anyone who has been a minister knows that that happens. The fact that there is I think maybe a dozen occasions when that happened for this issue, given the volume of correspondence that has occurred, suggests that this is a non-story. Now, congratulations on getting a little bit of media on something to do with the algal bloom being whether one piece of correspondence is passed to another piece of correspondence. What really matters here is whether anyone is interested in the algal bloom on that side.

Mr Pederick: You just threw your staff under a bus.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Hammond!

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: That's unfair. That is unfair to say because my staff are extraordinarily hardworking and have worked their guts out on this algal bloom.

An honourable member: Bleeding hearts.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: So we are not sure how we are reacting to this—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Deputy Premier, can you resume your seat. Members on my right! And member for Florey, your voice stood out the most, so you are on your second warning, member for Florey. While I am out there, given that the member for Hammond couldn't help himself, you are on two warnings; and member for Chaffey, you can join your colleague under 137A for 15 minutes.

The honourable member for Chaffey having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. D.G. Pisoni interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Unley, you have been quite good today, but now in the last lot you have actually spoken up three or four times, so you can be on a second warning as well.