Question Time

Algal Bloom

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (14:04): My question is to the Premier. What input has the federal government had into the state government's algal summer plan? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: At a media conference on 20 August, the Prime Minister said:

…my Government will provide support. We already have, and we'll continue to do so, and we'll work with the state government on their summer plan as well.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:05): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. This morning, the task force set up by the state government, at a cabinet level to oversee all responses pertaining to the algal bloom, met. We discussed a whole range of different issues that we are working on. Obviously, this morning the state government was able to announce its plans to coordinate and assist with beach clean-up activities, and this is a plan that we will execute after some weeks of work in that regard, and I can talk about that at length.

One of the other issues that was discussed, of course, was the preparations of the summer plan as it evolves, including engagement with the commonwealth, but it is the state government that is leading this effort. It is principally an exercise of work within the state government across a range of agencies. DEW, DTF, Department of the Premier and Cabinet and PIRSA are amongst probably the key organisations that are contributing to it, but also the SATC and the support of tourism from the Minister for Tourism. There's a fair bit of effort going into it, but it is principally a South Australian government-led effort.

We will engage with the commonwealth on an ongoing basis, as we have been up to this point. The key thing we are looking for from the commonwealth more than anything is a sustainment of its contribution around science and research, which has been important up until this point. Ultimately, the summer plan will have costs associated with it, and we look forward to productive engagement with the commonwealth and assistance in that regard.