An independent Royal Commission must be convened to examine the wide-ranging and devastating impacts of the toxic algal bloom on South Australia’s marine industries, according to the state opposition.

The Liberal Party is calling on the state government to allocate funding to support the Royal Commission and recommends the terms of reference include:

• A review of marine environment monitoring.
• Identifying key environmental early warning signs of toxic algal blooms.
• Examining health impacts of the toxic algae to marine life and humans.
• Economic impact of marine disasters on coastal communities and industries.
• Preventative measures to avoid or reduce impact of future events.
• Recommendations for how to respond to future events.

Leader of the Opposition Vincent Tarzia says the sheer scale of the environmental disaster on our coastline demands this scale of response.

“This goes far beyond politics. This is about doing all we can collectively to ensure we understand the full impact of this disaster and what actions we can take to help the affected industries,” he says. 

“The experience of similar incidents around the world shows that it could be several years before our fishing, aquaculture and tourism industries recover from the enormity of the algal bloom event.

“A Royal Commission would bring independent accountability, transparency and real recommendations for the best way to support our industries now and into the future.

“We firmly believe that a Royal Commission is what this crisis deserves and will bring the necessary independent oversight to this issue. I would encourage the government to pursue this as a matter of urgency.”

Acting Premier Susan Close has rejected the call, saying it would be a waste of money asking questions scientists have already answered.

The Shadow Minister for Primary Industries and Regional South Australia, Dr Nicola Centofanti, says the state’s marine industries are worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the economy and they deserve this investment in their future.

"Royal Commissions are the highest form of public inquiry in our democratic system,” Dr Centofanti says.

“We establish them when an issue is so serious, so complex, or so systemic that it demands a deep, independent investigation, beyond what a Government department or Parliamentary committee can provide.

“While a Royal Commission provides a medium to long term solution, we are also calling on the Government to do better when it comes to immediate relief.

“We are calling for a full waiver of commercial fishing license fees beyond June of this year for those affected.

“When boats can’t go out and catches can’t be made, it really is unjustified to expect businesses to pay fees that are normally based on active commercial use.”

Shadow Minister for the Environment and Finniss MP David Basham says a Royal Commission would also look at the impact natural disasters have on coastal communities who rely on tourism and marine industries.

“Many coastal towns have now had two peak school holiday periods impacted by this algal bloom, yet where is the relief or certainty for them?

“The future of our coastal environment, communities and industries relies on us doing the right thing now, and that means an urgent and independent Royal Commission.

“Labor’s environmental platform to date seems to be an effort to secure COP and even that being delivered is in doubt.

“Labor has done nothing but grandstand its environmental credentials by declaring a climate emergency, but this is pure tokenism when they fail to respond when the impact of that emergency washes up on our shores.”