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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-11-12 Daily Xml
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Algal Bloom

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:46): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development on the topic of algal bloom health advice.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: Yesterday, the Senate report on the algal bloom in South Australia recommended at recommendation 8 that the South Australian government provide timely, clear and scientifically informed public health advice. Last week in The Advertiser, it was reported that, on the discovery of the newly identified brevetoxin that has been a critical part of the algal bloom impact on our coast and coastal communities, Karenia cristata has indeed been identified.

The Advertiser quotes, in that article of 6 November, Professor of Marine Science Gustaaf Hallegraeff as saying, and I quote him:

It's a major change in what we thought was the enemy. It's much more serious—it impacts the nervous system. We may have to adjust some of our human health responses.

Another marine scientist, Professor Mike Steer, is quoted in that same article as saying, and I quote:

It doesn't change the health advice at all, it just now gives us an easier name for us to identify.

My questions to the minister are:

1. What health advice has the minister, or her department, sought on the human health concerns regarding Karenia cristata?

2. Notwithstanding the apparent contradiction of these two quotes, why is a PIRSA executive commenting on health impacts and not the Chief Public Health Officer or a health spokesperson?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:48): I thank the honourable member for her question. In terms of the second question there, I expect we would all need to find out where Professor Steer was interviewed. If it was part of the Algal Bloom Taskforce and he was at the post-taskforce press conference and he was asked that question, then he obviously was responding in that capacity. Obviously, the government is always seeking to have the most up-to-date information and to communicate that to the public as soon as possible.

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