Giles Electorate

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (15:37): I rise today to talk about a number of issues impacting upon my electorate. Obviously, this week there has been some very positive news, with the Federal Court confirming that the port and the assets of the port are part of the steelworks, so it is good to see that confirmation. It is yet another confirmation of the action that we took when we took that unprecedented step to push GFG in Whyalla into administration. Hopefully that augurs well for the future and the potential sale of the steelworks, the mines and the port to a credible buyer.

One of the concerning things in Whyalla the at the moment is also concerning on a state basis, given the unique nature of the giant Australian cuttlefish aggregation. The concern, of course, is the movement of the algal bloom. It has moved huge distances. At the moment, it is still 70 kilometres to the south of Whyalla, and it is entirely possible that it will not reach the waters around Whyalla and the area where the cuttlefish aggregation occurs.

The aggregation is over this year. The eggs are there, and we will have hatchlings in the not too distant future. As a state government we are obviously incredibly mindful of this unique biological phenomena that is just outside of Whyalla. We also realise the challenges, the uncertainties, that come with this particular algal bloom.

The intent to put in place a 200-metre bubble curtain is welcome. We cannot guarantee that it is going to be effective, but it might well be, and it is something that has been done in other localised locations elsewhere in the world to protect particular habitats. Obviously the aggregation is far more than 200 metres, but the estimate is this might well protect somewhere between 50,000 and 80,000 eggs or hatchlings, so it is something worth doing as some insurance.

Over the years there have been a lot of champions for the cuttlefish aggregation. Tony Bramley, one of the divers with a diving business in Whyalla, always has been an incredibly strong champion of the cuttlefish aggregation. Chris Fewster, one of the professional fishermen, when other professional fishermen were hammering the aggregation he was also a champion. He is an excellent photographer and a man with an interest not just in the cuttlefish but a whole range of species in the northern Spencer Gulf. There is also Carlo Possagno, another fantastic photographer and advocate for the cuttlefish. He does an excellent job with the work that he does.

The waters at the moment around the aggregation in Whyalla are good-quality waters. We have people like Steve Storic, a local who has a marine-based business, who goes out on a regular basis and reports on the quality of the water, and he has been bagging out on plenty of fish. Let's hope it continues to be that way, that we are able to protect the cuttlefish and that the algal bloom does not spread much further north and we get out of a very difficult predicament on this occasion.

There has been a whole range of positive initiatives in the electorate of Giles. There is obviously Port Augusta with its new ambulance station and now the go-ahead for the new ambulance station in Whyalla. The extra crews that that is going to entail is a real positive. There was the official opening of the Port Augusta Technical College just recently. The college is now fully enrolled and there will be an open day for the whole community on Sunday, so that will be a good opportunity for people to go and check out this amazing facility.