Question Time

Algal Bloom

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (14:09): My question is to the Premier. Is it safe for asthmatics and individuals with chronic lung conditions to visit South Australian beaches?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:10): We have been very clear about the need for clear, accurate, non-conspiracy led advice to be followed when it comes to the algal bloom. On this side of the house we have been very diligent about making sure when we put things out on the public record that they are accurate, that we do our homework, that we engage with the professionals. When we seek public health advice, we make sure that it is provided by the experts and that is what we put out on the public record. Now, I know that approach isn't shared by everyone in this parliament. I know that some people are approaching the algal bloom as a political opportunity rather than it being something that should be treated seriously.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Yes, the deputy leader. Your point of order is?

Mr TEAGUE: It's standing order 98(a). The Premier is also starting to stray into territory of casting aspersions on the motivation of the questioner. It's 98(a), it's a straightforward question about safety for asthmatics and the Premier has immediately headed off into debate and substance about motives.

The SPEAKER: The Premier has had like less than 30 seconds on his feet and it's an important thing.

The Hon. P.B. Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Premier, you will come to order. This is an important matter for all South Australians, but particularly for those of us who live along the coastlines of South Australia. It is an important question and the Premier is giving his answer to that and it is important to talk about this situation in its entirety and what's out there in the public realm. I will go back to the Premier, who I am sure is going to get to the matter around the question of asthma, but he is also updating the house—for the first time in a few weeks, because we have not been here—on what's happening out there along our coastlines. So the Premier has the call.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: As I say, Mr Speaker, on this side of the house we have been very deliberate about making sure that the moment we are in receipt of health advice it is put out there on the public record and also advice that we receive in conjunction to the algal bloom, whether it comes from SARDI or PIRSA or international experts that the government has acquired the services of.

Obviously, being an unprecedented set of circumstances, we are very keen to make sure that accurate information is coming from the government at every opportunity. I do think that is an approach that everybody in the parliament has a responsibility to pursue.

In respect of asthma, and people who have asthma conditions in the state, we would encourage them to follow the advice that has been released through SA Health. That advice was updated following preliminary testing results—and I stress, preliminary testing results—regarding the foamy water that we saw present itself on Henley Beach.

The nation does not currently have a fully accredited brevetoxin testing regime. That testing is done in New Zealand and that has been true for some time. As a state, we are now initiating Australia's first capability to be able to establish a brevetoxin regime. That was funded from our package that was announced some time ago. That has actually moved at a pace that no-one reasonably expected in the time and I would actually thank Agilex for their work in Thebarton. In the western suburbs of Adelaide they are rapidly stepping up that testing capability.

That is still going through a full accreditation process, but their preliminary results indicated the presence of the brevetoxin in that foam in the water system, which is hardly surprising given we know that the brevetoxin has been in shellfish in particular, or bivalves, particularly in mussels and oysters. So while there was no-one who was surprised by those results, having had the ability to be able to make the test and get a preliminary result, we released it as soon as it came to the task force.

I will be frank: the task force had to assess whether or not it was appropriate to release those results, even though they were of a preliminary nature only, but we formed the view, collectively, that having received the results we should put them out on the public record, and we did so that Thursday morning. The public health advice was adjusted accordingly, and we would encourage asthmatics, in particular, to follow that advice in terms of their circumstances.