Sarah Herrmann, Yorke Peninsula Country Times
The Federal Government has pledged $14 million towards South Australia’s harmful algae bloom, but has not declared it a national disaster.
Federal environment minister Murray Watt made the announcement yesterday (Monday, July 21) during a visit to Adelaide’s beaches, saying $14 million was the formal request made by the State Government the day before.
Mr Watt said the money would be used for clean-up efforts, business assistance, community awareness and support, and science and research, but specific funding allocations were yet to be decided.
“There’s no doubt whatsoever that this is a very serious environmental event facing South Australia, and I recognise it’s been incredibly disturbing for all South Australians and indeed the country,” he said.
“I recognise the environmental impact it’s having on SA marine life, I recognise the economic impact that it’s having on a range of industries, and I recognise the emotional toll it’s taking on South Australians.
“I’ve heard the calls from South Australians that they wanted to see a Federal Government minister on the ground dealing with the situation and bringing support and that’s what I’ve done.”
The minister said he briefed Federal Cabinet before visiting Adelaide and they were “unified” in recognising the severity of the event and offering financial support.
However, he said the bloom did not meet the criteria of the federal natural disaster framework, and any consideration of changing that framework was “a matter for another day.”
“We are in uncharted waters here — this is an unprecedented event and one of the difficulties has been understanding exactly what it’s impacts are and what sort of response is required,” he said.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said the state cabinet’s emergency management committee would meet today (Tuesday, July 22) to discuss their next steps.
“We are very grateful … this is welcome funding,” he said.
“It will go a long way to assisting the people that are being affected most harshly through this algal bloom, but also critically we can turn our minds to how we better prepare for these types of events into the future.”
State Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia said he was shocked to learn the State Government had only made its formal request for federal support on Sunday (July 20).
“We have been listening to industry and communities along the coast for months and consistently advocating for the thousands of South Australians who have had their livelihoods crippled by this algal bloom,” he said.
“In stark contrast, the premier has only just parachuted into the conversation without a plan, hoping a grand announcement will ease the political pressure on his government due to its woeful response.
“What this crisis and the people at the heart of it actually need is genuine consultation and clarity on the path forward, but instead they’ve been met by state and federal Labor governments that are at odds with each other over whether this should be declared a natural disaster.”
SA Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the $14 million package was welcome, but not enough.
“It’s beyond time for the Albanese Government to call it what it is: a national disaster,” she said.
“Climate change doesn’t care about bureaucracy — it will continue to wreak havoc on our environment and communities until we take it seriously.
“If the rules need fixing, so this catastrophe can be acknowledged as the disaster it is, then let’s get them fixed.
“We’re back in parliament this week, and I urge the prime minister to do right by our environment and South Australians and declare this the national disaster that it is.
This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 22 July 2025.
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