Drought fund expanded for algal bloom response
Visiting Adelaide on Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the Regional Investment Corporation - which provides concessional loans to farmers - would have a new stream added to ensure longer term support.
"It's very clear that slow onset events like marine heatwaves and algal blooms will continue to impact our natural environment, communities and businesses," he said.
"What we will do is work with the minister for agriculture, who's been working closely with relevant stakeholders to extend the operations of the RIC and improve those operations."
The algal bloom has killed tens of thousands of marine animals since it was identified off the Fleurieu Peninsula in March, and has since spread along some of the coastline.
The prime minister did not provide further details on the funding or how much would be made available in South Australia.
He also announced that in addition to the existing $28 million algal bloom package, further federal measures included $4 million for local government grants, $2 million to enhance monitoring and data collection of marine heatwaves, and $250,000 for algal bloom research.
He told South Australians "the federal government stands side by side with you" and that support would be provided as requested.
Asked if he would acknowledge the algal bloom as a natural disaster, as it was described by Premier Peter Malinauskas, Mr Albanese said the government had "acknowledged it as a significant ecological event".
The prime minister was visiting Adelaide company AgileX Biolabs, which has set up a new national brevetoxin testing lab, meaning samples no longer have to be sent to New Zealand.
Brevetoxins have been detected in shellfish in SA, forcing the closure of some harvesting areas.
Earlier, Mr Albanese visited Kangaroo Island, and commented on social media that the algal bloom has had "a heartbreaking impact on our marine life, on our fishers, and on our communities".
"We're responding on all fronts: providing relief for those affected, new investments to restore our coasts, and long-term measures to better protect our environment," he wrote on X.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said Mr Albanese's refusal to recognise the algal bloom as a natural disaster "beggars belief" and Mr Malinauskas had "failed to stand up for his state".
"He let the prime minister get away with weasel words instead of demanding a proper disaster declaration and real support," she said.
SA Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia said if Mr Albanese was only here for a photo opportunity, "then he shouldn't waste his time".
"Declare it a natural disaster or don't bother coming at all," he said.
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