Algal Bloom

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (17:29): My question is to the Premier, because I have not been advised otherwise. Can the Premier advise which of his ministers is responsible for the management of the algal bloom crisis? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: In an article by David Penberthy in The Australian on 14 August, it was reported that:

The sluggish response of government to South Australia's algal bloom crisis has been exposed with the release of excruciating correspondence between senior bureaucrats trying to work out which department is responsible for its management.

Letters and emails obtained under FOI…read like a Yes Minister sketch with a three-way buck-passing exercise unfolding over several weeks between the departments of Premier, Primary Industries and Environment.

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) (17:30): There is a kind of two-part question there: who's in charge? It's Peter Malinauskas, the Premier of South Australia, but the question of—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: I have enormous respect—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Members are aware of parliamentary protocol, so I would suggest you just listen to the answer.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I suggest you listen to the answer.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: I have enormous respect for David Penberthy, and I think he has covered this issue very, very well, but I will say that I don't call two departments having to work out whether the emphasis is more on environment or fisheries as being buck-passing. I think everyone was working incredibly hard to get the answers to the people who are writing in to us.

Sitting extended beyond 18:00 on motion of Hon. A. Koutsantonis.