Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Algal Bloom Algal Bloom The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI Legislative Council Algal Bloom The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): Supplementary: given that clay flocculation or other technologies can't be used on large algal blooms, should the government have engaged with experts sooner? The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries Algal Bloom The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:31): We have been engaging with experts since the beginning. Dr Anderson, who is the Director of the United States National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms, is here in Adelaide, exactly so that we can draw on his expertise, and he can also learn more by talking with those who have been involved in this in South Australia. Again, I will stress that the technology is entering a trial phase in the United States, where approval authorities have been cautious. It is absolutely appropriate that we investigate any possible mitigation approaches. It is also absolutely essential that we investigate them fully and don't create more problems or difficulties. It is a matter of being open to whatever information we are able to draw on and continuing as we go forward in terms of how this might be approached if we have a similar algal bloom in the future.