1 July 2025
The Greens say Labor is failing to protect South Australia's environment as scientists warn the toxic algae crisis is now threatening Adelaide’s metropolitan rivers and West Lakes - and could be here for a whole year or longer.
The Greens have called on Environment Minister Susan Close to back a moratorium on new gas and oil mines in SA given she and experts have today conceded climate change is fuelling the toxic algae crisis.
Robert Simms is Greens MLC in SA Parliament:
“Labor’s addiction to gas is putting South Australia at risk.”
“Today the Government has admitted toxic algae is not only here to stay, but will likely get worse and now threatens our metropolitan rivers and West Lakes.”
“South Australians deserve more than a running commentary on ecological collapse. We need an end to the fossil fuels causing this crisis.”
“The Government should back the Greens call for a moratorium on new oil and gas mines which experts say are making the algae crisis worse.”
Melanie Selwood is lead candidate for the SA Greens state election campaign:
“Labor is failing to protect our environment while it remains captured by the gas lobby.”
“Minister Close has said today that fossil fuels are spreading toxic algae. So why is her Government opening up more gas projects in our state against the scientific advice?”
“Our oceans and rivers are being poisoned by the toxic impact of climate change, but SA Labor is effectively begging polluters to ‘drill baby drill’ for new oil and gas reserves in the Otway and Polda Basins. If this happens, we will see more fish kills and more coastal businesses going under as our oceans and waterways are poisoned.”
“The applications for new exploration licences for oil and gas mines in SA should be halted immediately. The toxic algae crisis will be ‘made by Labor’ if it continues to ignore the science and burn more fossil fuels.”