South Coast Algal Bloom

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:39): Supplementary: why did it take over four months for the government to put in these support programs?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:40): I might perhaps ask the question of why it took four months for those opposite to bother to be interested in the harmful algal bloom. I outlined yesterday—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Minister, your attempt at fishing was very successful.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: That is an excellent line, sir.

The PRESIDENT: But if you could just answer the substance of the question, it would be good.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I outlined in this place yesterday the timeline of action from this government, which started far earlier than anything we heard from those opposite. It started back when the first reports came in, in March. We talked about the cross-agency working group that had been established and all of the engagement that we have had with industry throughout that time. I think it's quite remarkable that those opposite, coming late to the situation, then suddenly—I think they must be staring in a mirror when they talk about delays.