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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-09-02 Daily Xml
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Question Time

South Coast Algal Bloom

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:29): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding the harmful algal bloom. What is the current scientific advice as to when the algal bloom will dissipate, and will the minister table that advice?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:29): I thank the honourable member for her question. Every week we have the Harmful Algal Bloom Taskforce where we are updated on the current information. The Premier then does a media conference where that information is shared. The algal bloom website, algalbloom.sa.gov.au, is available with as much information as possible.

Those opposite should be aware that there is no specific date when we can guarantee that the harmful algal bloom will end. We know the reasons for the harmful algal bloom. Professor Mike Steer has been doing an admirable job in terms of communicating across the state in regard to the harmful algal bloom, as well as a number of other people from various departments.

We know what has caused the bloom: it is a marine heatwave where we have had temperatures that are about 2½° higher than the average temperatures in the ocean; we have had an increase in nutrients due to both the extended upwelling as well as the River Murray floods; and we have had weather that is conducive to the bloom continuing. Where we have lots of sunshine, where we do not have lots of rain and lots of storms and heavy weather, then the bloom is also more likely to continue.

We continue to work with the science group, the industry reference group, and of course all of those who can provide information to better understand the bloom. What has been important is that we are able to provide assistance where possible to impacted industries, which includes of course the fishing and aquaculture industries but also so many others, such as tourism industries and others in beachside locations. We will continue to work with industry and to inform South Australians as this harmful algal bloom continues.

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