LABOR’S ENVIRONMENT CREDENTIALS ALL WASHED UP

Angie Bell MP
Shadow Minister for the Environment
Shadow Minister for Youth
Federal Member for Moncrieff

MEDIA RELEASE

21 July 2025

LABOR’S ENVIRONMENT CREDENTIALS ALL WASHED UP

Today’s visit to South Australia by the Environment Minister is an extraordinary admission that the government has been completely flat-footed in its response to the spread of toxic algal bloom.

This last minute dash on the eve of parliament’s resumption is a last second window dressing exercise to say he has visited.

Minister Watt claimed as recently as Friday that the spread of toxic algal bloom in South Australia – which is devastating waters adjacent to Commonwealth Marine Parks – is a state issue, when trying to justify his decision to send only a departmental official to witness the situation.

This comes after repeated requests from eminent scientists for meetings and modest funding of $40 million over 10 years were rejected by both Tanya Plibersek and Murray Watt. For weeks, the Coalition has been calling on the government to listen and consider this request.

It is an indictment on Labor’s priorities that it required weeks of pressure for the Environment Minister to finally see for himself the disaster unfolding in South Australia.

The Albanese Labor Government has sat idly by as the toxic algal bloom ravages marine life, the coastal ecosystem and local fishing industries.

Unfortunately, this is not unexpected.

Over the last three years, Labor has been on a go-slow on environmental policies. From recycling to threatened species and EPBC reforms, the Albanese Labor Government has failed to move from slogans to substance.

Labor likes to talk about its environmental credentials, but its lukewarm response to the SA algal bloom is disappointing to say the least. While we have a new Environment Minister, we are seeing the same inaction.

After three years of failure in delivering anything of substance in the portfolio, Minister Watt is failing at the first test in his new role.

The Coalition stands ready to work constructively with the government to prevent any further devastation from the toxic algal bloom.

[ENDS]