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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-08-19 Daily Xml
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South Coast Algal Bloom

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (15:52): Supplementary: can the minister advise the chamber which experts provided advice to the government prior to June on the algal bloom, and when, and will the minister table that advice?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:52): As is the case whenever there is something that is unprecedented or unusual, there is a lot of work that goes on at the departmental level, both with interstate counterparts and others who may have expertise. I think the very fact that there were 80 scientists who were convened—

The Hon. N.J. Centofanti interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: There were 80 scientists who were convened to be able to give their expertise to identify where there is shared understanding across the country, as well as from other places elsewhere, as well as what the knowledge gaps are. It is a really important part of developing this. I think the opposition is clearly interested in trying to score political points rather than actually be interested in addressing the issues. Having a natural disaster such as we have with the algal bloom, having something that is unprecedented, means there has been a lot of work, a lot of liaison, a lot of questions asked, and a lot more work still to be done. That is why we have been working so hard throughout this time.

You think about the fact that back from the date that I mentioned in terms of the situational updates, from 11 April, that have been available and supplied to recreational fishing, commercial fishing and aquaculture sectors, it indicates how long we have been working on this. Our focus is not on trying to make political points as those opposite want to do. Our focus is on supporting our regional communities, supporting our fishing and aquaculture industries, and working hard with those with the expertise to learn more about this bloom and how it may be able to be addressed.

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