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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-06-05 Daily Xml
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South Coast Algal Bloom

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking questions of the Minister for Primary Industries on the harmful algal bloom in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The harmful algal bloom event, as we are all aware, has had a severe and ongoing impact, particularly on commercial fishers, and especially for those operating out of Kangaroo Island and the Yorke Peninsula, as well as sections of the aquaculture industry. Many have seen their income fall to zero in the last two months, with no ability to fish and no alternative revenue stream.

Whilst industry welcomes the inclusion of fishers in the Rural Business Support $1,500 hardship funding, following advocacy efforts from industry leaders, it is the opposition's understanding that the fishing industry remains ineligible for any Farm Household Allowance currently. Given the scale of the economic impact caused by the harmful algal bloom event, my questions to the minister are:

1. Has the minister or her office had any communication from the fishing industry groups or from individual fishers in this state seeking fee waivers for those businesses impacted by the harmful algal bloom?

2. Will the minister waive or defer PIRSA fees for those impacted by the harmful algal bloom in the commercial fishing industry and the aquaculture industry?

3. Has the minister advocated to the federal government for the inclusion of commercial fishers and the aquaculture industry in the Farm Household Allowance scheme?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:21): I thank the honourable member for her question. In regard to the harmful algal bloom, there have been a wide variety of impacts—different impacts across different areas of the state. That is why it has really been considered on a case-by-case basis. In terms of fee waivers, I answered a similar question, asked, if I remember correctly, by the Hon. Connie Bonaros on Tuesday, when I said that at that time there hadn't been requests for fee waivers. However, in the last couple of days, I believe, correspondence has come into my office.

One of the things that has been part of the ongoing communications with affected industries has included Mr Gavin Begg from my department meeting this morning, if I remember correctly, with a number of producers and discussing some of the various aspects of the algal bloom, including taking on board whether any changes to fees may be appropriate.

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