Prime Minister Albanese Defends Federal Response to SA Algal Bloom, Announces New Funding
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stood by the federal government’s handling of the devastating algal bloom in South Australia, opting not to categorise it as a national disaster.
Instead, he described the event as “heartbreaking” and pledged $6.25 million in additional funding to support affected communities.
During a visit to Kangaroo Island on Wednesday, Albanese announced the funding, which includes $4 million for local government grants, $2 million to enhance CSIRO monitoring and data collection of marine heatwaves, and $250,000 for algal bloom-related research.
The funding is part of a broader $28 million support package jointly developed with the SA government.
Federal Government’s Response Under Scrutiny
Albanese faced questions over the federal response to the bloom, with some critics arguing it should be declared a national disaster.
However, the prime minister drew a distinction between the bloom and other events like floods and bushfires, saying it was a unique environmental event requiring a specific response.
SA Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia has called on Albanese to declare the algal bloom a natural disaster, warning that the lack of recognition could hinder access to necessary support for affected businesses.
Tarzia also suggested that the federal government would have acted sooner if the bloom had occurred along the east coast.
Business Owners Struggle to Cope
Local business owners, such as Mostyn Brown, are struggling to stay afloat due to the algal bloom’s impact on the region’s economy.
Brown, who operates a fishing tackle business, has seen a significant downturn in trade since May and is struggling to pay wages and bills.
He has written to state and federal MPs, seeking support to avoid going under.
Testing Capabilities to Be Enhanced
In a move to improve testing capabilities for brevetoxins, a shellfish toxin linked to the algal bloom, the SA government has announced funding for Adelaide-based Agilex Biolabs to develop local testing capacity.
Currently, samples have to be sent to New Zealand for testing.