South Coast Algal Bloom

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries on the topic of financial assistance for commercial fishermen affected by the algal bloom.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The opposition has been contacted by commercial fishers, who continue to struggle as a result of prolonged and severe algal blooms that have significantly impacted their ability to earn a living. While some weather changes have brought modest relief in isolated areas, in many regions the issue persists. One fisher described the situation, and I quote:

There is a $1500 grant to help financially with algal bloom. I know fishermen that have applied with no success as they want to know everything and you almost need a tax accountant to fill the form out which would cost lots of money itself. I thought government help should be easy, not this hard, as our businesses go under. I'd also say that there is huge concern not only about today but also about the unknown future that the government has no concern about.

My questions to the minister are:

1. Is the minister aware of concerns raised about the complexity of the application process, and will she commit to simplifying access to financial support for affected fishers?

2. What is the department doing to actively monitor the ongoing impacts of algal blooms on commercial fishing operations across different regions of our state?

3. Will the government consider expanding eligibility for industry fee relief by introducing clear, criteria-based guidelines rather than relying solely on, as the minister has stated previously in this chamber, a case-by-case basis?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:25): I thank the honourable member for her question. First of all, in regard to what the member claims is complexity, I would encourage anyone who would like assistance with applying for these sorts of grants to do so through the Family and Business Mentors, who are also able to direct them to additional assistance that might be available, obviously depending on their circumstance. That applies to whether they are fishers, farmers or anyone else who is eligible for that type of assistance.

I certainly am happy to raise it with Rural Business Support, because I haven't had feedback that the $1,500 grants are difficult to access. I think I might have heard the same fisher on radio yesterday morning—it may have been the same person—and that is the first time that I have heard that sort of feedback about the applications for those grants. What I have heard is that it's quite straightforward.

Initially—and I don't think this would have applied to the fisher applying for it, because to my knowledge no fisher has applied until fairly recently—the thought was that the applications would go through the usual process of a full financial counselling assistance program. Back then, we got some feedback, particularly, if I recall correctly, from GPSA (Grain Producers SA) that—or it may have been Livestock SA, but I think it was Grain Producers SA—that wasn't necessarily the most appropriate approach for all farmers and, therefore, there was the alternative option of speaking to a business support officer at RBS and stating what the impact of the drought had been on you and your business and providing evidence that you have, for example, overdue bills or something like that. So my understanding is that the process has been simple for the majority of people, but certainly I am happy to raise that with Rural Business Support if that is a concern.

In terms of monitoring the algal bloom, I have spoken before about that process. We have talked about the fact that this is the largest algal bloom seen before in South Australia and that the expectation was that wild weather and a decrease in sea temperatures brought about by rain would assist. In terms of the updates to that, the last update I think was six days ago, so there should be a further update, remembering the updates are on the DEW website and, I think, possibly on the PIRSA website as well, either today or tomorrow.

The analysis involves both water sampling and satellite imagery. Where there is cloud cover, satellite imagery will be negatively affected, so some of that information will still continue to come through. Obviously, we all hope that the algal bloom will disperse sooner rather than later. Some of the early indications that I had in briefings that I have had have been that some of it has moved but not necessarily dispersed as we would have hoped.

My office has received a number of requests from marine scalefish licence holders and one from the association requesting fee relief due to fishing conditions reported to be related to the harmful algal bloom. Over the past weeks, my office has been working with the association and the department to devise an appropriate process to gather information detailing the impacted fishers, the extent of the impact they have suffered, and then that can guide whether there is some appropriate assistance that can be provided.

Both associations will now gather information to provide to PIRSA regarding their members who have been impacted and the extent of those impacts. Obviously, the information would need to be verified and targeted if there is assistance. I think it is also important to mention that marine scalefishers across the sector are impacted to varying degrees by the harmful algal bloom: some are reporting significant impacts and some none. That is why a one-size-fits-all approach is not appropriate in this instance.

I do find it quite remarkable that the Leader of the Opposition in this place doesn't want the approach to be flexible. She is saying, 'We have to have clear guidelines and not on a case-by-case basis.' She is saying that she doesn't want it to be flexible. I think, when we are looking at what the impacts have been and whether assistance is appropriate and for whom, of course it needs to be flexible. It needs to be based on the information because, as I said, different people are affected in different ways.