21 July 2025
The Greens have accused Labor's Tom Koutsantonis and Premier Peter Malinauskas of being ‘missing in action’ for months on the toxic algae crisis engulfing South Australia, calling for an end to new gas & oil drilling which experts and the Government concede fuel the algae crisis.
The Greens say SA Labor’s addiction to “drill baby drill” for fossil fuels will cost them at the March State Election.
SA Labor must act on toxic algae crisis:
- Moratorium on new oil and gas in SA – immediately close new exploration tenders for the Otway and Polda basins
- Scrap all fossil fuel subsidies from SA taxpayers
- Make polluters pay for compensation and clean up to impacted businesses & industries
Robert Simms, Greens MLC in State Parliament:
“The Government has been clear that climate change is causing this toxic algal crisis, and so they need to get real about climate action. This government has opened new oil and gas projects in our state - that must end now.
“I have a great deal of respect for the Premier, but he is starting to gain a reputation as a bit of a fair-weather friend. He is here for the good times, but when the storm clouds gather, he's ducking for cover
“Premier Malinauskas likes to position himself as a bit of an Action Man, but he's been missing in action on this crisis, and it’s causing devastation right across our state.
“We understand from reports today that this algal bloom is now two times the size of the ACT, and 12,000 sea animals have died.
“The government is pushing for South Australia to host the next COP, and this is an opportunity for us to showcase our climate credentials. We risk shredding our international reputation if these scenes of devastation on our beaches continue.
“We need leadership from the Malinauskas Government and that means ending new gas and oil pollution.
“This investment from the Commonwealth is welcome following advocacy from the Greens, but we are yet to see appropriate investment from the State Government.”
Melanie Selwood is Lead Greens Candidate for the State Election in March:
“The toxic algae crisis is being driven by climate change, but the State Government is still opening up new gas and oil mines.
“It’s not good enough for Minister Koutsantonis to keep sending Susan Close out to clean up his mess. He needs to take responsibility for his continual cheerleading for gas and oil pollution.
Mr. Koutsantonis should immediately cancel the new polluting tenders in the Otway and Polda Basins. Labor's fossil fuels are worsening the toxic algae crisis.
“In eight months’ time, voters in SA will be asking themselves whether the Labor Government did enough to protect our environment and the truth is they are complicit in causing this climate catastrophe.”