Algal Bloom

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (14:40): Supplementary: as part of these forums, is the government discouraging the use of the word 'toxic', and is its reason for doing so to preserve the reputation of the Malinauskas government?

The PRESIDENT: You can answer it, minister, but I didn't see any supplementary question arising from the answer.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:40): We are not influencing what people ask or how they ask it. One of the points of the algal bloom forums—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —is so that people can ask their questions. They may well be able to ask questions about topics such as the one the honourable member has raised.

I think the important point here is the message that is being sent to tourists, whether that is tourists within South Australia or more broadly. We want people to understand that the algal bloom is obviously having a significant effect, but there are many parts of our coast that are unaffected. The health advice is there to be followed in terms of any of the health impacts—which, as we know, are short-lived for the majority of people.

It is important that we do not get the type of information or perception there—to put it more precisely, perhaps—that you cannot come to South Australia and you cannot walk on our beaches. That is incredibly devastating and harmful to our South Australian businesses, and that is what we are trying to address.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Bonaros, I will listen to your supplementary question arising from the original answer.