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) (14:58): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries regarding the algal bloom. Leave granted. The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI Legislative Council The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: According to Professor Mike Steer, Executive Director of SARDI, the algal bloom has been caused by three things: (1) floodwaters from the River Murray flooding event in 2022-23 bringing extra nutrients into the sea; (2) a cold water upwelling in summer 2023-24, lifting more nutrients to the water surface; and (3) a marine heatwave since September 2024, lifting water temperatures 2.5° above normal. These three causes are also listed on the government's algal bloom website explicitly as the cause of the algal bloom. So my question to the minister is: does the minister agree with SARDI's executive director? The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:59): I am always very pleased to take the advice of eminent scientists and I am also very pleased that we have eminent scientists within SARDI and within PIRSA.