ANTHONY ALBANESE FAILS SOUTH AUSTRALIANS ON ALGAL BLOOM

THE HON SUSSAN LEY MP

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR FARRER

SENATOR THE HON ANNE RUSTON

SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA

ANGIE BELL MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MONCRIEFF

SENATOR ROSS CADELL

SHADOW MINISTER FOR FISHERIES AND FORESTRY

JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT

20 August 2025

ANTHONY ALBANESE FAILS SOUTH AUSTRALIANS ON ALGAL BLOOM

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has failed South Australians today.

After months of distraction on global affairs where Australia has little role and even less influence, the Prime Minister has finally bothered to visit South Australia, a state in the grip of one of its worst natural disasters.

His government has found $600 million for a Rugby League team in Papua New Guinea, but today could only scrape together an additional $6.25 million in immediate support for South Australians. That is a slap in the face for communities living through an environmental crisis devastating ecosystems twice the size of the ACT.

The Prime Minister’s refusal to recognise this as a natural disaster beggars belief.

Instead of leadership, Australians were treated to a blame game directed at his own bureaucracy after months of inaction and delay.

The algal bloom catastrophe is an urgent crisis across South Australia and there is no new substantial immediate support for South Australians today.

The Prime Minister also failed to apologise for not visiting the algal bloom sites sooner, despite businesses crying out for urgent support. These calls have fallen on deaf ears.

Today, there was no new support package for devastated businesses and no new support package to help local communities.

Premier Peter Malinauskas has also failed to stand up for his state.

He let the Prime Minister get away with weasel words instead of demanding a proper disaster declaration and real support.

South Australians deserve better than spin and token gestures.

This catastrophe demands serious national leadership. Instead, Anthony Albanese has once again taken South Australians for granted.

[ENDS]

Background: 

Labor have previously announced

• $14 million of Commonwealth Funding in July 2025

Today Labor have announced immediate measures:

• $4 million of direct funding for local grants
• $2.25 million for further scientific research support