Federal funding to assist SA to deal with algal bloom but no national disaster declaration
In a press conference in Adelaide, Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt described the bloom as "a serious environmental event".
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas welcomed the funding pledge and said the state government would be meeting on Tuesday to make deliberations about additional funding support.
The bloom has been ravaging marine life throughout the state since March, disrupting fishing, aquaculture and tourism industries and threatening fragile coastal ecosystems.
It has also seen dead marine life, including dead sharks and stingrays, wash up on metropolitan beaches.
Mr Watt briefed the federal cabinet this morning on the algal bloom before flying to Adelaide to inspect its impact on metropolitan beaches.
"The federal cabinet was unified in recognising that this is a very serious event facing South Australia and that we need to step up federal government support for South Australia as they lead the response effort here," he said.
Mr Watt said the $14 million funding package came in response to a request lodged by the South Australian government on Sunday.
"There will need to be some further discussions between ourselves and the South Australian government about exactly the details of how that funding is used," he said.
"But it's intended to deal with a number of short-term requirements and some of the longer-term needs that South Australia is going to face as it recovers from this event."
Mr Watt said he expected the funding to go towards activities like cleaning up beaches, assisting affected businesses, boosting "community awareness" and investing in scientific research.
"The reality is we are in uncharted waters here," he said.
"This is an unprecedented event and one of the difficulties has been understanding exactly what its impacts are and what sort of response is required."
The funding package comes amid mounting criticism of the federal government's response to the crisis, with the Greens suggesting a federal response would have come quicker if the bloom occurred in Sydney.
Earlier today, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said he had "rather assertively" urged the federal government to treat the algal bloom as a natural disaster and provide financial assistance.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
43 minutes ago
- News.com.au
How Labor Party could still form government in Tasmania despite 'worst ever' election result
Tasmanians are no closer to knowing who will lead the state after Saturday's snap election led to a hung parliament, with neither major party able to form a majority government. The results two days on show Tasmania Labor is still on track for its worst ever electoral performance with the party currently sitting on under 26 per cent of the primary vote with the Liberals on 40 per cent and the Greens capturing 14 per cent of voters first choices. Labor's 2025 state election result is the party's worst electoral performance since 1903. Despite the result, Labor is likely to end up with the same number of MPs as it did in the 2024 election when it achieved 29 per cent of the primary, while the Liberals had 14 seats – short of the 18 to form majority. While Premier Jeremy Rockliff is claiming a mandate for the Liberal Party to continue in power, Labor leader Dean Winter may still work with the Greens and crossbenchers to form a minority government. As the election night results rolled into the Tasmanian tally room, it looked increasingly like Mr Winter's election gamble had backfired. What makes this election outcome different is unlike in the immediate aftermath of the 2024 result, the Labor leader has not refused to attempt to form government with the Greens and independent crossbench. Despite ruling out any formal deal with the Greens, Mr Winter says he has already reached out to a number of independents. The Greens have urged Labor to seek an arrangement with them to form government. It is understood the Labor leader has yet to contact Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff. However for Labor to govern in any capacity, the Greens support in some form will be required. Mr Rockliff who all but declared victory on Saturday night is adamant that he is the one with a mandate to govern. 'I do have a mandate, given we've got the largest number of seats,' the Premier told reporters on Monday. 'For Dean Winter to govern, he'll need to do a deal with the Greens for which he does not have a mandate from the Tasmanian people.' The problem for the Liberals however is that with a likely 14 or possibly 15 seats, they are also well short of the 18 votes needed to command a workable majority on the floor of the 35-seat House of Assembly. Additionally, with the former Jacqui Lambie members all losing their seats, the House will be without conservative leaning independents, with three of the four independents elected opposed to the Macquarie Point stadium. The only crossbench member to support the project is former Labor leader David O Byrne, who said he could work with either side to form government. There could be an additional new member to the crossbench with Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Carlo di Falco a chance to win in Lyons, however a final result is not expected for another week. The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers are opposed to the stadium, meaning one of Mr Rockliff's key commitments would only be delivered with Labor votes, regardless of who forms government. Tasmania Labor's path to power looks less certain but they can count on Greens support in whatever form that comes (Mr Winter says the support would only be accepted without any conditions attached) With a likely 10 seats from Labor and five from the Greens, Mr Winter would then only have to negotiate with three independents, something Mr Winter was unwilling to do just one month ago. Saturday's election was held follow the passage of Labor leader's successful no confidence motion in Premier Rockliff's leadership with Mr Winter citing the botched roll out of new Spirit of Tasmania vessels, the state's growing budget deficit and the controversial Macquarie Point Stadium project as examples of Mr Rockliff's failed leadership. Despite being in a position to put together a minority government as a result of the no confidence motion's passage, Mr Winter chose to decline the opportunity, leaving the state's Governor with no choice but to grant Mr Rockliff's wish to hold the state's second election in just 16 months. Instead of a clear result. Tasmanian voters have returned very similar numbers as the last parliament.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Albanese sets out his agenda as parliament returns
The Prime Minister speaks to Sarah Ferguson to outline his agenda and explain what he plans to do with his significant majority. Political editor Jacob Greber takes a look at the dynamics of the new 48th Parliament.
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
'You can't erase history': Labor to keep Latham party room portrait, with added disclaimer
A picture of former Labor leader Mark Latham will keep hanging in the party's caucus room as he faces domestic violence allegations. Latham is accused by his former partner Nathalie Matthews of a "sustained pattern" of abuse. Latham strongly denies the untested claims made in a civil court apprehended violence order application by Matthews, saying he has "broken no laws". Calls have grown since the allegations were raised for his official portrait in Labor's federal party room to be removed. But a Labor caucus meeting on Monday was told a "unanimous consensus position" had been reached where the photo would remain, but with a caption providing context. The words will read: "In 2017 Mark Latham was expelled from the Australian Labor Party and banned for life. His actions do not accord with Labor values and fail to meet the standards we expect and demand." Latham sits as an independent in the NSW upper house and faces calls to resign over sexually explicit messages allegedly sent to his former partner while sitting in the chamber of parliament. Portraits of former federal Labor leaders John Curtin, Frank Forde, Ben Chifley, Kim Beazley, Simon Crean and Mark Latham in the Labor caucus room. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas The decision to add context to Latham's portrait was the right one, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said. "It's finding the balance, you can't erase history, we can't pretend he wasn't our leader, he was and so there he sits in the leaders' timeline," she told reporters in Canberra. "But it's a recognition ... his behaviour and attitudes don't reflect the modern Australian Labor Party." Gallagher said the wording allowed people to feel something had been done. "It will exist there forever on our leaders wall," she said. "It's a pretty strong statement." Latham lost his bid for the nation's top job at the 2004 federal election to former Liberal prime minister John Howard. The campaign was marked by his aggressive handshake with Howard outside the ABC's radio studios on election-eve. The infamous episode was largely blamed for his election defeat and delivered the Howard government a fourth term. The Federal Court in 2024 ordered Latham pay independent NSW politician Alex Greenwich $140,000 in damages over a homophobic social media post.
