Latest news with #Tarzia
ABC News
7 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Algal bloom 'disaster' prompts royal commission call as impact spreads to mussel farms
A royal commission is needed to tackle the long-term effects of the devastating algal bloom off South Australia's coast that has killed countless sea creatures and is damaging industries, the state's opposition says. The call comes as the impact of the bloom continues to spread, with mussel farming sites around Port Lincoln shut down after shellfish toxins were detected in the area. The "precautionary closure", which came into effect on Wednesday, has suspended mussel harvesting at the Boston Bay, Bickers Island, Lower Eyre and Proper Bay sites, according to the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA). The opposition said a royal commission would allow thorough examination of the causes and consequences of the Karenia mikimotoi bloom — as well as the responses so far, potential health impacts, and steps to prevent a repeat of the current crisis. "What we're calling for is for a royal commission to investigate in an independent way what exactly has caused this algal bloom, and what could we better do to make sure that it is managed and to ensure it doesn't happen again." Mr Tarzia said the estimated cost of "a few million dollars" was a "small price to pay". Attorney-General Kyam Maher poured scorn on the proposal, suggesting it was a waste of money to investigate what was "almost universally accepted by scientists to be caused by climate change". "We've already announced half a million dollars in fee relief for the fishing industry and we've said we're looking at doing more," he said. Last week, the government announced what it described as an "initial investment" of $500,000 to support the state's commercial fishing sector. Commercial fisher Andrew Pisani, from Stansbury on Yorke Peninsula, said what had been announced so far was "just not going to be enough". "Stansbury is ground zero. We're 70 days in now — 70 days — and we need some help, help now," he said. "We're not making any income there at all. Opposition primary industries spokesperson Nicola Centofanti called on the government to waive fishing licence fees "from July onwards". "We've got commercial fishermen, aquaculture businesses, tourism businesses that are literally on their knees," she said. "[They] need not just short-term support but they need a medium-to-long-term plan. "This is an ecological and economic disaster." Port Wakefield fisher Justin Cicolella said the impact at the northern end of Gulf St Vincent had, until now, not been as bad — but there were signs that was changing. "Ongoing support's probably going to have to be there. We've all got young families and rely on a certain amount of money coming in each week," he said. Fellow Port Wakefield fisher Bart Butson said he was "not sure" if a royal commission was the answer, but that securing a sustainable fishery was of "foremost" importance. "I wake up at night thinking, 'How long can we catch some fish for?'" he said. "It's just beginning to bite now. We've seen the squid in our area disappear … and that makes up 30 per cent of our wage, of our catch." The push for a royal commission comes after the Greens called for a state-based inquiry and urged the federal government to declare the bloom a national disaster. The state government said it had already established a working group made up of government agencies including PIRSA to better understand the bloom. "We're keen to make sure we're having the best scientists look at what's happening and … not going to lawyers for a royal commission," Mr Maher said. The government last week shut down several Lower Eyre Peninsula mussel farming sites, on a temporary basis, because of shellfish toxins linked to the bloom. The site closures prevent the sale and movement of bivalve molluscan shellfish from the area. PIRSA said the closures impacted two producers: Yumbah Mussels Holdings and Deedah Oysters. The former employs about 75 people, with its parent company saying the closures have caused "uncertainty for our staff, suppliers and our customers". Both Yumbah Aquaculture and PIRSA said there was no public health risk and mussels already on the market were safe to eat. The closures come after PIRSA's regular testing of shellfish harvesting sites detected brevetoxins — neurotoxic shellfish poisons that can affect oysters, mussels and scallops, according to SA Health. If consumed, they can cause symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps. "They have detected brevetoxin which is a neurotoxin that is associated with the Karenia species and therefore they cannot allow the sales of the mussels," Environment Minister Susan Close said. "This is obviously very serious. "What's likely is that we've got a dominant Karenia mikimotoi algal bloom but some other varieties of Karenia in there, and we've seen a couple of instances now where that's shown up." Ms Close said she was "hopeful" that the affected businesses would be "able to survive at least a short period without lay-offs". Asked how long the shutdown would last, Ms Close said PIRSA would rely on "clear test results" to determine when products could be sold again. "They will be frequently testing in order to get mussels back on the shelf once they are safe," she said. Yumbah Aquaculture chief executive David Wood said the harvesting suspension was expected to last "at least four weeks". He said local brevetoxin levels remained within the relevant safety threshold, but added: "Yumbah takes no risks with food safety." "While current levels pose no threat to consumers, further assessment is required due to this testing feedback timing, and the suspension is expected to last at least four weeks," he said in a statement. The shellfish shutdown is the latest in a series of economic disruptions caused by SA's algal bloom. In May, PIRSA also suspended shellfish harvesting operations around Stansbury and Port Vincent on Yorke Peninsula due to increased brevetoxin levels, forcing the quarantine of up to 10 million oysters. Mr Wood said the impact on fisheries was "unprecedented". "This situation brings uncertainty for our staff, suppliers and our customers. "We're working closely with our teams to understand the implications and provide support, continuing to back each other through this challenging time."
The Advertiser
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
After-hours GPs, tax relief pitch in budget reply
Grants of $150,000 for GP clinics to offer after-hours services, stamp duty relief for first homebuyers and support for drought-stricken farmers are central to a Liberal opposition's pitch for government. In the South Australian parliament on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia responded to the Malinauskas government's June 5 budget, in a speech that was also a pitch to voters before the state election in March. The budget was "arrogant and visionless" and was filled with "spin, debt, broken promises and bad priorities", he said. "The cost of living is crushing, home ownership is slipping out of reach, our health system is under incredible pressure, crime is spiralling and our regions are in drought, desperate for support," Mr Tarzia said. Meanwhile, "Party Pete" was "riding the wave of event after event, often on the taxpayer dime", he said in reference to Premier Peter Malinauskas. "The likes of Sam Smith, Greg Norman, Katy Perry … that's where he's most comfortable," he said. Mr Tarzia announced a two-year trial to offer $150,000 grants to GP clinics to help cover the cost of opening until 8pm on weekdays and on Sundays. "We will abolish Labor's water bill price hike, we'll scrap Labor's GP payroll tax grab and we'll slash stamp duty for first homebuyers, including on existing homes," he said. First homebuyers purchasing an existing home of up to $1 million would not pay stamp duty, saving up to $48,000 in upfront costs, and the Liberals would also waive the $192 mortgage registration fee. Treasurer Stephen Mullighan's budget was headlined by a $395 million "law and order" package to fund hundreds of extra police officers, but existing commitments to big-ticket road and hospital projects and net debt of $35.5 billion, left it little room to move on big new investments. Mr Tarzia said the government's $73 million drought package provided "little relief" to farmers and regional communities doing it tough. "So far, their response has been nothing but disgraceful," he said. The government needed to create a drought hardship registry, fast-track relief with targeted rebates, subsidise water carting and deliver low or no interest loans for fodder and fertiliser, he said. Mr Tarzia criticised the government on hospital ramping, which was "worse than ever" and broken promises on a $600 million hydrogen plant was shelved to help fund the Whyalla steelworks package. Grants of $150,000 for GP clinics to offer after-hours services, stamp duty relief for first homebuyers and support for drought-stricken farmers are central to a Liberal opposition's pitch for government. In the South Australian parliament on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia responded to the Malinauskas government's June 5 budget, in a speech that was also a pitch to voters before the state election in March. The budget was "arrogant and visionless" and was filled with "spin, debt, broken promises and bad priorities", he said. "The cost of living is crushing, home ownership is slipping out of reach, our health system is under incredible pressure, crime is spiralling and our regions are in drought, desperate for support," Mr Tarzia said. Meanwhile, "Party Pete" was "riding the wave of event after event, often on the taxpayer dime", he said in reference to Premier Peter Malinauskas. "The likes of Sam Smith, Greg Norman, Katy Perry … that's where he's most comfortable," he said. Mr Tarzia announced a two-year trial to offer $150,000 grants to GP clinics to help cover the cost of opening until 8pm on weekdays and on Sundays. "We will abolish Labor's water bill price hike, we'll scrap Labor's GP payroll tax grab and we'll slash stamp duty for first homebuyers, including on existing homes," he said. First homebuyers purchasing an existing home of up to $1 million would not pay stamp duty, saving up to $48,000 in upfront costs, and the Liberals would also waive the $192 mortgage registration fee. Treasurer Stephen Mullighan's budget was headlined by a $395 million "law and order" package to fund hundreds of extra police officers, but existing commitments to big-ticket road and hospital projects and net debt of $35.5 billion, left it little room to move on big new investments. Mr Tarzia said the government's $73 million drought package provided "little relief" to farmers and regional communities doing it tough. "So far, their response has been nothing but disgraceful," he said. The government needed to create a drought hardship registry, fast-track relief with targeted rebates, subsidise water carting and deliver low or no interest loans for fodder and fertiliser, he said. Mr Tarzia criticised the government on hospital ramping, which was "worse than ever" and broken promises on a $600 million hydrogen plant was shelved to help fund the Whyalla steelworks package. Grants of $150,000 for GP clinics to offer after-hours services, stamp duty relief for first homebuyers and support for drought-stricken farmers are central to a Liberal opposition's pitch for government. In the South Australian parliament on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia responded to the Malinauskas government's June 5 budget, in a speech that was also a pitch to voters before the state election in March. The budget was "arrogant and visionless" and was filled with "spin, debt, broken promises and bad priorities", he said. "The cost of living is crushing, home ownership is slipping out of reach, our health system is under incredible pressure, crime is spiralling and our regions are in drought, desperate for support," Mr Tarzia said. Meanwhile, "Party Pete" was "riding the wave of event after event, often on the taxpayer dime", he said in reference to Premier Peter Malinauskas. "The likes of Sam Smith, Greg Norman, Katy Perry … that's where he's most comfortable," he said. Mr Tarzia announced a two-year trial to offer $150,000 grants to GP clinics to help cover the cost of opening until 8pm on weekdays and on Sundays. "We will abolish Labor's water bill price hike, we'll scrap Labor's GP payroll tax grab and we'll slash stamp duty for first homebuyers, including on existing homes," he said. First homebuyers purchasing an existing home of up to $1 million would not pay stamp duty, saving up to $48,000 in upfront costs, and the Liberals would also waive the $192 mortgage registration fee. Treasurer Stephen Mullighan's budget was headlined by a $395 million "law and order" package to fund hundreds of extra police officers, but existing commitments to big-ticket road and hospital projects and net debt of $35.5 billion, left it little room to move on big new investments. Mr Tarzia said the government's $73 million drought package provided "little relief" to farmers and regional communities doing it tough. "So far, their response has been nothing but disgraceful," he said. The government needed to create a drought hardship registry, fast-track relief with targeted rebates, subsidise water carting and deliver low or no interest loans for fodder and fertiliser, he said. Mr Tarzia criticised the government on hospital ramping, which was "worse than ever" and broken promises on a $600 million hydrogen plant was shelved to help fund the Whyalla steelworks package. Grants of $150,000 for GP clinics to offer after-hours services, stamp duty relief for first homebuyers and support for drought-stricken farmers are central to a Liberal opposition's pitch for government. In the South Australian parliament on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia responded to the Malinauskas government's June 5 budget, in a speech that was also a pitch to voters before the state election in March. The budget was "arrogant and visionless" and was filled with "spin, debt, broken promises and bad priorities", he said. "The cost of living is crushing, home ownership is slipping out of reach, our health system is under incredible pressure, crime is spiralling and our regions are in drought, desperate for support," Mr Tarzia said. Meanwhile, "Party Pete" was "riding the wave of event after event, often on the taxpayer dime", he said in reference to Premier Peter Malinauskas. "The likes of Sam Smith, Greg Norman, Katy Perry … that's where he's most comfortable," he said. Mr Tarzia announced a two-year trial to offer $150,000 grants to GP clinics to help cover the cost of opening until 8pm on weekdays and on Sundays. "We will abolish Labor's water bill price hike, we'll scrap Labor's GP payroll tax grab and we'll slash stamp duty for first homebuyers, including on existing homes," he said. First homebuyers purchasing an existing home of up to $1 million would not pay stamp duty, saving up to $48,000 in upfront costs, and the Liberals would also waive the $192 mortgage registration fee. Treasurer Stephen Mullighan's budget was headlined by a $395 million "law and order" package to fund hundreds of extra police officers, but existing commitments to big-ticket road and hospital projects and net debt of $35.5 billion, left it little room to move on big new investments. Mr Tarzia said the government's $73 million drought package provided "little relief" to farmers and regional communities doing it tough. "So far, their response has been nothing but disgraceful," he said. The government needed to create a drought hardship registry, fast-track relief with targeted rebates, subsidise water carting and deliver low or no interest loans for fodder and fertiliser, he said. Mr Tarzia criticised the government on hospital ramping, which was "worse than ever" and broken promises on a $600 million hydrogen plant was shelved to help fund the Whyalla steelworks package.
Perth Now
17-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
After-hours GPs, tax relief pitch in budget reply
Grants of $150,000 for GP clinics to offer after-hours services, stamp duty relief for first homebuyers and support for drought-stricken farmers are central to a Liberal opposition's pitch for government. In the South Australian parliament on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia responded to the Malinauskas government's June 5 budget, in a speech that was also a pitch to voters before the state election in March. The budget was "arrogant and visionless" and was filled with "spin, debt, broken promises and bad priorities", he said. "The cost of living is crushing, home ownership is slipping out of reach, our health system is under incredible pressure, crime is spiralling and our regions are in drought, desperate for support," Mr Tarzia said. Meanwhile, "Party Pete" was "riding the wave of event after event, often on the taxpayer dime", he said in reference to Premier Peter Malinauskas. "The likes of Sam Smith, Greg Norman, Katy Perry … that's where he's most comfortable," he said. Mr Tarzia announced a two-year trial to offer $150,000 grants to GP clinics to help cover the cost of opening until 8pm on weekdays and on Sundays. "We will abolish Labor's water bill price hike, we'll scrap Labor's GP payroll tax grab and we'll slash stamp duty for first homebuyers, including on existing homes," he said. First homebuyers purchasing an existing home of up to $1 million would not pay stamp duty, saving up to $48,000 in upfront costs, and the Liberals would also waive the $192 mortgage registration fee. Treasurer Stephen Mullighan's budget was headlined by a $395 million "law and order" package to fund hundreds of extra police officers, but existing commitments to big-ticket road and hospital projects and net debt of $35.5 billion, left it little room to move on big new investments. Mr Tarzia said the government's $73 million drought package provided "little relief" to farmers and regional communities doing it tough. "So far, their response has been nothing but disgraceful," he said. The government needed to create a drought hardship registry, fast-track relief with targeted rebates, subsidise water carting and deliver low or no interest loans for fodder and fertiliser, he said. Mr Tarzia criticised the government on hospital ramping, which was "worse than ever" and broken promises on a $600 million hydrogen plant was shelved to help fund the Whyalla steelworks package.
7NEWS
16-06-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Mike Smithson: SA Liberal leader Vincent Tarzia facing the most important week of his political career with stamp duty pledge
SA Liberal leader Vincent Tarzia is facing the most important week of his political career. His budget response speech will be minutely scrutinised this week as an early indication of him having the right stuff to lead the state after the general election next March. The Libs have finally gone on the front foot after a seeming endless policy vacuum with their chances of victory still at such long odds. But they've now opened the door with an ambitious pledge to cut stamp duty for first home buyers on any property, new or existing, up to $1 million. 'The Liberals are for lower taxes for hardworking South Australians,' Tarzia told ABC radio. 'Helping people get into the housing market, who're taking 12 years to save for a deposit, is part of this ambitious new policy,' he said. It seems all good on paper with an estimated saving of $50,000 for any struggling home buyer coping with a $1million debt. So, what's the catch? The Opposition concedes its plan will cost the SA Budget $100 million in lost stamp duty revenue. The Government has done its sums and estimates it's more likely to be $130 million. Treasurer Stephen Mullighan had a moment of hesitation when describing Vincent Tarzia's housing blueprint. 'Mr Tarzia is talking out of his…hat,' Mullighan claimed with an emphasised timely pause. 'It will benefit the vendor driving up the demand for homes and making buyers worse off,' he said. 'He's (Tarzia) happy to forego the revenue for an even high state debt.' With SA's projected debt to hit $48 billion by 2028 every dollar of conceded revenue is obviously a problem for the Treasurer. The Liberals are confident that 5,000 new home buyers would take up the offer but couldn't provide any conclusive independent analysis. 'The government is piling in the cash and they're banking millions,' according to Tarzia. Both sides are claiming the high moral ground when it comes to battlers in the marketplace. The Government already offers stamp duty relief for new builds and has also opened vast tracts of land in the outer suburbs. It also boasts urban infill in areas closer to the CBD for those who want to live nearer to the city but on smaller allotments. The Libs see their promise will appeal to more young people wanting to buy established homes just around the corner from mum and dad. Some of Tarzia's critics say he's only appealing to a small potential supporter base who currently don't own homes. The counter argument is that many of those voters have parents and grandparents who are desperately worried about their offspring ever being able to break into the real estate market. Those older swinging voters may be ripe for the picking on political perceptions alone. The government needs to be careful in dismissing the Libs' plan as ridiculous. I'm increasingly convinced that Labor thinks it has the next election already won. Most pundits in South Australia are also firmly of that view. But policies create chatter which, in turn, send growing ripples across the political pond. The Libs still have a raft of ideas to announce, but Tarzia's next task is to perform a showman-like presentation during his budget reply speech. If he falters there, vital momentum is guaranteed to be lost.
