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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-10-30 Daily Xml
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Algal Bloom

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (14:40): My question is to the Premier. Has the government approved the movement of oysters from an algal bloom closed area at Franklin Harbour to a non-algal bloom affected area on the West Coast? If so, what science was used to justify the decision? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr TELFER: The industry and community of the West Coast have significant concerns about departmental decisions being made without a full understanding of the potential risks and impacts in an area of the state unaffected by the algal bloom and need assurance that scientific proof for such a decision is robust.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier, Minister for Defence and Space Industries) (14:41): I thank the member for Flinders for his question. Yes, there has been a decision made by PIRSA to authorise the transfer of oysters from one area to another, to which the member for Flinders refers. This was done after a rather lengthy examination by SARDI in conjunction with PIRSA to understand what the opportunity is here and what the risks are associated with that.

Clearly, the obligation upon all concerned is to make decisions in a thoughtful way on the basis of a risk analysis and understanding what is involved. The view was formed by the experts and the scientists that a transfer could be facilitated, which is of great benefit to the affected oyster grower, without running any adverse or unnecessary risk to other oyster growers in the area. The advice I have received is that it was done in consultation with oyster growers more broadly.

Mr Telfer interjecting:

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: You're shaking your head. Were you there when SARDI, when PIRSA was sitting down talking with them?

Mr Telfer: Yes, I was. I was at the SAOGA AGM when they promised they would and they didn't.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Obviously, if the member for Flinders was present when the consultation occurred—

Mr Telfer: No, it's not consultation—where they promised they would, and they haven't.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: My advice is that consultation occurred. If you weren't in the room when the consultation occurred, you can't discount the fact that it did occur, so that's just worthy of note.

Mr Telfer: How come they all tell me it didn't occur?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: The advice—

Mr Telfer: Because I think he has been given misinformation, that's why.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: No, it's okay.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Sorry—I asked this question in the task force this morning. This question was asked and the advice that I received from the CEO of the Department of Primary Industries was that oyster growers were consulted with regarding this, understanding that 'consulted with' doesn't necessarily mean that people get what they want. But they were engaged, and it was explained why the decision was being taken that has.

But understand this: this is a decision that has been very thoughtfully considered by all the experts. My job is to scrutinise that and make sure that that has occurred. From both SARDI and PIRSA, they were at one in saying they don't believe there is a considerable risk here and that the transfer can happen. Bear in mind, in respect of brevetoxins for instance, the language that was used in his explanation to me was that brevetoxin is not like a contractable—a disease you can contract from one person to another. It's not like a COVID or anything. The brevetoxin is—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: It's not contagious—thank you. It's quite different again. This provides an opportunity for the brevetoxin to flush out of those affected oysters without having a risk to the other oysters as well. There is also the consideration of the algae. The work has been done. As I have said repeatedly, we back our scientists. We question them and we scrutinise them. That is the advice that has come through that has informed their decision.

Now I am aware that there are some people who are unhappy about it because they would rather those other oyster growers not be looked after. What we are trying to do is make the right judgement for the industry as a whole.

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