Algal Bloom

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (15:50): My question again is to the Minister for Environment. How is the data collected, and by whom, for the daily algal bloom condition updates along the South Australian beaches? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr BASHAM: The government has promised daily updates for 23 beaches from North Haven to Goolwa via the Surf Life Saving SA's Beachsafe app. In a recent interview, the minister said:

Beachgoers told us they want clear updates on water quality and conditions. Our teams will be out every morning inspecting and cleaning beaches to make sure the information people see is accurate and up to date.

The Hon. L.P. HOOD (Adelaide—Minister for Climate, Environment and Water) (15:51): That's right. I thank the member for his question. That is why, as one of our key initiatives of the summer plan, we announced on the weekend that we would have the Beachsafe app, an upgraded app by Surf Life Saving Australia (it was an existing app), and we are using that app to provide these pieces of information for families and South Australians wanting to go to the beach.

We have those 23 locations on the app where there will be those two updates per day. As I have said, it has those three pieces of information: whether abnormal foam is present, where there is discoloration in the water and when the beach was cleaned. It will also include a photo from when that assessment has occurred. That will allow South Australians and families to go onto the app, check out the beach that they may want to attend on the day, look at the photo, look at the information and make a judgement around whether or not they will attend that particular beach.

It's also important to note that not everybody necessarily goes to a beach to swim. I know personally my family love going to Henley Square, but it's not necessarily always to get in the water. The fact is that at Henley Square we have amazing small businesses to visit, they often have various local events, whether that is markets, etc. This is just a tool that families can use to determine which beach they may like to go to on that day. It does not necessarily mean they would have to get into the water. There is that element of personal responsibility. I understand that is something that the other side considers one of their values, but this is about having that information and making sure that they can make a personal judgement about whether or not they would like to go to the beach that day.

We have heard from our various community forums. We have had 1,800 people attend those forums right across the state. I have had the pleasure of attending and hosting a number of those, the first of which was in the area where I grew up in Kingston South-East, obviously in your own community, Mr Speaker, the member for Gibson's community and the member for Black's community. What we were hearing at those forums is that people just wanted that advice, easily understood, easily digestible, easily accessible, and that is why we have been able to form this important partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. L.P. HOOD: I note the Leader of the Opposition's comments questioning the ability of surf lifesaving to undertake an assessment around where they place their flags when they go to patrol a beach. I emphasise that for 100 years the surf lifesaving volunteers have been patrolling our beaches and keeping South Australians safe.

I think it's very important that we continue to have faith and pride in our surf lifesavers. Each and every weekend, they go out and they volunteer, taking up their personal time to keep South Australians safe. It is never more important to make sure that people are engaging in those water safety programs. As a former lifeguard and VACSWIM instructor myself, it is absolutely critical that we have our young people undertaking the Nippers programs or the Surf Babies programs. It's very important that we make sure we are providing that information and the surf lifesavers are undertaking that assessment along with our beach clean-up crews each morning.

The SPEAKER: Just a quick warning to the member for Colton: you are starting to sound like an owl with the 'hoot, hoot'. Can we have a little less of that?