South Australian government calls for Commonwealth to support fishers as algal bloom continues

Australia Broadcast Center

4 days ago

The South Australian government is urging the Commonwealth to "come to the party" and assist local industries affected by the state's toxic algal bloom, amid mounting criticism of the federal government's response to the crisis.
The bloom, first detected off SA's Fleurieu Peninsula, has been ravaging marine life across the state over the past four months, threatening coastal ecosystems and disrupting local tourism, fishing and aquaculture industries.
SA's Minister for Primary Industries and Regions, Clare Scriven, wrote to her federal counterpart Julie Collins on Thursday regarding "industry support" for fishers.
The request comes as commercial fishers across South Australia report being left with nothing to catch due to fish kills happening underwater.
"We are really, really hoping the federal government will come to the party and assist in what is a very difficult time for South Australia and particularly for South Australian fishers and our regional communities," Ms Scriven said.
The state government has previously announced commercial fishers can apply to have licence and other fees waived if their catches have been impacted by the bloom.
Ms Scriven said the state government is also advocating that the federal government declare the event a "national disaster".
"So we would certainly appreciate the federal government agreeing with what we have been advocating, which is that this is a national disaster.
"We hope that they will come to see it in that light."
Federal Minister for Environment and Water, Murray Watt, said the Albanese government recognised the bloom was "very serious for South Australians", adding that he would "certainly consider" any assistance request from the state government.
But he also stressed that the bloom was occurring in state, not Commonwealth, waters.
"I think the reality is that state governments do have primary responsibility for state matters including in state waters, and federal governments have responsibility for federal matters including things in Commonwealth waters," he told ABC Radio Adelaide.
SA Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young renewed her calls for a "national disaster" declaration over the "environmental catastrophe" being caused by the toxic bloom.
"South Australians are increasingly alarmed at what's going on every day, a walk down the beach is becoming an exercise in counting dead fish, dead dolphins," she said.
"They're increasingly frustrated they are being abandoned by the federal government."
She said South Australians had been "virtually dismissed" by the Albanese government following Minister Watt's interview on ABC Radio Adelaide.
"Saying that this is just up to [the] state government means [Minister Watt] hasn't really understood the enormity of this issue," Ms Hanson-Young said.
Ms Hanson-Young referenced the infamous "I don't hold a hose, mate" justification made by then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2019 after he took a holiday during the Black Summer bushfires which ravaged parts of the country.
SA opposition leader Vincent Tarzia said he was "gobsmacked and outraged" by Minister Watt's response and called for the state and federal governments to collaborate.
"They should be working together in a collaborative fashion to make sure they can do everything that is available to them, at their disposal, to improve this situation," he said.
Mr Tarzia said he had written to the federal Environment Minister urging him to visit South Australia to "see the decimation" for himself.
"There should be a package on the table right now, whether it's for tourism operators or whether it's for fishermen, or whether it's for better testing regimes," he said.
"For the federal [Environment] Minister to not even be here, not even visit SA, it's just not good enough."
Mr Watt admitted he had not been to the state "personally since the algal bloom has started" but said he was well aware of the situation and the seriousness of it.
He was asked about criticisms levelled by political commentators and SA Greens MPs that the government would have responded to the bloom quicker if it happened in Sydney.
"I certainly am aware that that's the perception in Adelaide," Mr Watt said.
"And I can understand people feeling that way.
"But I guess what I'm saying is for some time now ... we have been engaged with the South Australian government."