Algal Bloom

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (14:46): My question is to the Premier. What is preventing the government from bringing forward the release of its algal bloom summer plan? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr BASHAM: Businesses across the state are hurting, and school holidays start at the end of next week when thousands of families traditionally converge on our coastal areas for their holidays, which many of the businesses rely on.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:46): We are working on the summer plan; in fact this morning, at the taskforce meeting, we had another update on that. What's preventing it? Well, we just want to make sure that the work is done as thoroughly as possible before it is released—so that's what we are doing. In fact, I have committed in this place that we will be doing it in October. That's very much on track. We think that's appropriate. October is the second month of spring, well in advance of summer.

The member for Finniss makes an absolutely accurate point around businesses on many of our coastal communities being affected, including in his own electorate, which I know he knows. I invite the member for Finniss—and I haven't checked; I will do that when I get a chance—but the member for Finniss could look at his own Facebook page. You have a capacity to tell the people of your electorate and more broadly what's going on in your electorate. This is a general question: I wonder has the member for Finniss gone on his Facebook page—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I am wondering if the member for Finniss has gone on his Facebook page and broadcast to his community that he hasn't had algae in most of his electorate for weeks. I wonder if he has done that? Or—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I am thinking now, detecting from the opposition's reaction, that maybe the member for Finniss hasn't been out there broadcasting to the community: 'No algae in my electorate, please come on down and support my businesses.' I wonder if instead he has been hanging out with the Hon. Frank Pangallo, cooking up ways to politicise the algal bloom, trying to find ways to create concern in the community.

If the member for Finniss shares our concern for the algal bloom, they would be putting a muzzle on the watchdog and saying, 'Stop inciting fear and start espousing facts like: the algal bloom hasn't been in much of your coastline now for some time.' The best thing that we can do for small businesses in our state is to make sure that they continue to have customers. They want customers more than they want government handouts and grants.

I hope a lot of people—and I say this with absolute sincerity—I hope all people in this state take the time to go down to Victor and Goolwa and Waitpinga and other parts of the member for Finniss's electorate to see firsthand how much beautiful coastline there is to enjoy. They can take up the government supports that are already in place. The Minister for Tourism today announced the launch of the Coast is Calling vouchers. Despite the fact there is no algae at the moment in the member for Finniss's electorate, his electorate is still eligible for that business support grant, and we hope people take it up.

My invitation, though, to every member in this parliament is let's have a team South-Australia approach. Let's put away the conspiracies. Let's stop trying to generate fake AI sources for misinformation, and let's start focusing on promoting the opportunity to be able to enjoy our coastlines. That's what we will be doing. We hope you join us in that endeavour.

Mr BASHAM: Supplementary.

The SPEAKER: The member for Finniss. We will see if this is a supplementary.