South Australian government officials debunk suggestions the toxic algal bloom was caused by desalination plants

5 months ago

State government officials have been forced to debunk suggestions South Australia's toxic algal bloom has been caused by desalination plants, saying the theory is fanning the flames of fear. The economic and environmental response to the crisis took a back seat on Tuesday as the Primary Industries Department faced parliamentary scrutiny over the cause of the bloom.

Transcript

00:00At a parliamentary committee, those leading SA's algal bloom response kept coming back

00:08to this.

00:09I could not see how desal plants could really create the bloom.

00:16In response to new Liberal recruit Frank Pangelo raising reports more than a decade

00:20old suggesting a link between desalination plants and harmful algal blooms.

00:26They also took aim at the Environmental Protection Authority whose monitoring has found no connection.

00:31It doesn't know what they're talking about, they don't do their own research, we haven't

00:36seen results of any monitoring that's been done.

00:40The EPA says all results are on its website and it holds itself to the highest scientific

00:45standard.

00:46We've got confidence in saying that the LA desal plant, there's no credible scientific evidence

00:53to suggest it's got anything to do with this harmful algal bloom.

00:56I have no patience for people in positions of power who choose to ignore science.

01:02As an independent, Frank Pangelo often went it alone, weighing in with his own policies

01:07and opinions on a range of issues.

01:10Now that he's accountable to a major party, the government has an opportunity to wedge the

01:14opposition, putting the question to Liberal leadership, are Mr Pangelo's views, in line

01:19with the parties.

01:20The department head came under criticism for his response when asked about a JobKeeper scheme,

01:25similar to that rolled out during COVID, for fishers left without work.

01:29I thought if they are not working and they are unemployed, they can always apply through

01:34the Commonwealth system.

01:36For the Dole?

01:37For the Dole.

01:38It is really a tone deaf suggestion and one that I think industry will be incredibly disappointed

01:46with an industry on its knees as the disaster drags on.

South Australian government officials debunk suggestions the toxic algal bloom was caused by desalination plants

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