4 September 2025
The Greens have secured support for a joint State Parliamentary inquiry into the harmful algal blooms devastating South Australian marine and coastal environments and the State Government’s response after the Upper House backed a motion by Robert Simms MLC yesterday evening.
“The toxic algal bloom is the biggest ecological catastrophe in our state’s modern history, and the Parliament has a responsibility to investigate,” said Robert Simms.
“This inquiry will consider the factors that caused the bloom to occur and spread rapidly as well as its economic impacts its effects on community health and wellbeing. It will also scrutinise the State Government’s response to this crisis, including public communications and support and recovery arrangements.”
“Crucially, the inquiry will consider long-term monitoring and prevention strategies and what steps that we may take to prevent a catastrophe like this from ever occurring again.”
“I welcome broad support for this proposal from across the Parliament. I look forward to working with my Parliamentary colleagues to get this committee up and running in the coming weeks.”
The motion to establish the inquiry passed unanimously. The inquiry will comprise of three members of the Upper House and three members of the Lower House. The Lower House is expected to support the motion to establish the inquiry and appoint its members in the coming days.
The text of the motion is below:
1. That, in the opinion of this Council, a Joint Committee be appointed to inquire into and report on the harmful algal blooms in South Australian marine and coastal environments, with particular reference to:
a) Contributing environmental, land management or water quality factors;
b) Ecological, economic, cultural and social impacts of algal blooms including impact on community health and wellbeing;
c) The cultural and economic impacts on Indigenous communities, including any loss of access to cultural practices;
d) The coordination of state government responses, including agency responsibility, industry engagement, scientific advice, and public communications;
e) The current support and recovery arrangements for impacted industries and communities;
f) The adequacy of long-term monitoring, forecasting and prevention strategies;
g) The adequacy of research funding, rehabilitation and recovery planning;
h) Any other related matters.
2. That, in the event of a Joint Committee being appointed, the Legislative Council be represented thereon by three Members, of whom two shall form a quorum of Council Members necessary to be present at all sittings of the Committee.
3. That Members of the Committee may participate in the proceedings by way of telephone or videoconference or other electronic means and shall be deemed to be present and counted for purposes of a quorum, subject to such means of participation remaining effective and not disadvantaging any member.
4. That this Council permits the Joint Committee to authorise the disclosure or publication, as it thinks fit, of any evidence or documents presented to the Committee prior to such evidence being reported to the Council.
5. That a Message be sent to the House of Assembly transmitting the foregoing resolution and requesting its concurrence thereto