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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-11-12 Daily Xml
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Algal Bloom

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (14:31): My question is to the Premier. What inquiries, if any, has the Premier made following comments in the Senate inquiry report from Doctors for the Environment Australia? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: The report notes:

Doctors for the Environment Australia is concerned at the downplaying of the potential health impact of the algal bloom by SA Health, with no plan for reporting or surveillance…

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:31): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question but I completely dismiss and reject his claim in the last bit of his question in terms of downplaying.

On this side of the house we support our public health officials. We support Professor Nicola Spurrier, Dr Chris Lease, Dr David Cunliffe—esteemed public servants who have served this state well through COVID, through both governments and now through the harmful algal bloom, providing advice not only to government but to the people of South Australia. I think it is incredibly disappointing that we are seeing not only the position of members here in this house opposite us but also senators from Canberra. I particularly note the comments from Senator Leah Blyth today who has said you should not trust what SA Health have said.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.B. Malinauskas: Can you imagine if that happened during the course of the pandemic? It is a disgrace.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: Absolutely. And what we heard Senator Blyth say—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Members on my right! The member for Hammond!

The Hon. P.B. Malinauskas interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Premier, the minister has the floor.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: Thank you, sir. We heard Senator Blyth say today:

I think trust is a huge issue, particularly coming out of the COVID pandemic and what SA Health have demonstrated is they can't be trusted to provide clear and evidence-based health advice...

This is coming from supposedly a party of government, a party that not that long ago won some plaudits from the public for backing public health advice during the course of the pandemic. Well, that reputation is now smashed. That reputation is in smithereens.

There is an opportunity now for the Leader of the Opposition, if he has some leadership backbone—and the shadow health minister, the member for Schubert—to stand up and say, 'We reject what Senator Blyth has said. We support our public health experts. We support the science. We don't support the dog whistling to the anti-vaxxers out there,' that some members of their party are seeking to politicise at every opportunity to cause division and a lack of faith in science and public health in our community. This is their opportunity; let's see if they do it.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Newland, you are called to order. Premier! Treasurer! Member for Chaffey, can you just keep your comments to yourself; it might be useful.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Members on my right! Thank you for your advice, member for Hammond.

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