Algal Bloom

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (14:51): Supplementary: does the minister regret taking so long to act on this crisis?

The PRESIDENT: It was a very wideranging answer you gave, minister, so I am going to allow the supplementary question, but you can answer it in the way you see fit.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for his supplementary question. As I have said in this place before, just because, in particular, those opposite came to this very late doesn't mean that the government wasn't working extremely hard behind the scenes in addressing this.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Our government was working, our scientists were working back from when the bloom first appeared in March. I have talked in this place about the multiple actions that were being taken, for example, in SARDI and PIRSA. In addition to that, we had some round tables back, if I recall correctly, in April. In April, we had a round table with coastal councils. We had a round table with local councils as just one of those actions that I refer to. I think if the facts are actually used here we will see that there was a lot of action very early on. But, of course, we continue to learn more about the algal bloom. We continue to address it using facts and science. It is an approach I suggest those opposite may wish to invest in.