Labor failure allowed algal bloom disaster to spiral out of control

Angie Bell MP

Shadow Minister for the Environment

Shadow Minister for Youth

Federal Member for Moncrieff

3 September 2025

OP ED – AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW

Labor failure allowed algal bloom disaster to spiral out of control

Walking on Australian beaches year-round is a luxury we enjoy in our great country.

But for South Australians, this luxury has not existed for months. Beaches are closed, and they’ve been told to stay more than 300 metres away due to the harmful algal bloom that’s ravaging the coastline.

The Great Southern Reef is suffering and the marine creature death toll has risen to 34,000.

Scientists first wrote to then-environment minister Tanya Plibersek in October 2023 seeking funding for algal bloom monitoring. They wrote again following Murray Watt’s appointment in May this year.

What was the government’s response? To deny them.

And now, this bloom has continued to grow. It is now twice the size of the ACT and can be clearly seen on satellite imagery from space.

The warning signs were clear, but the government did not listen to the science. They had nearly two years to deliver on this funding and advice from scientists.

The Great Southern Reef is suffering and the marine creature death toll has risen to 34,000.

The prime minister and his environment minister have allowed this ecological event to spiral out of control, with international scientists now declaring it among the worst algal bloom they’ve ever seen.

When asked how long it may take for the bloom to disperse, prominent algal bloom expert and scientist Dr Don Anderson was on record saying “even the best experts in the world unfortunately can’t answer that”.

So, not only is this one of the worst algal blooms seen by scientists, but they have no way of knowing when things will start to look up.

There are fears that this bloom will get worse before it gets better, especially with warmer temperatures on the way as we enter spring and summer.

The Albanese government only has itself to blame because it took too long to act.

But when the government did finally take notice, it was a last-minute, fleeting visit by the minister on the eve of parliament resuming to get a photo with dead marine creatures on a metro beach, announce a minuscule funding package, and then leave.

“What little financial support that is available comes too late for many tourism operators, fishers and businesses.”

This government can fork out a whopping $600 million for rugby league in Papua New Guinea, but it cannot fulfil scientists’ calls for $40 million over 10 years to monitor the bloom.

The Red Cross has reported its on-the-ground response could be similar to that of fires, floods and catastrophic weather events on the east coast.

When these events occur, the Red Cross is supported with emergency disaster relief funding. But for the algal bloom, they have not received a cent to support affected communities.

What little financial support that is available comes too late for many tourism operators, fishers and businesses. And when it comes to the bureaucratic process of applying for funding, it’s either too difficult, or the eligibility criteria are too ridiculous for some to even qualify.

There are also emerging reports of significant mental and physical health concerns. Warnings are in place for those with breathing difficulties, including asthma and hay fever, to stay well clear of beaches due to irritants associated with the bloom.

Surfers are falling ill, and mental wellbeing for residents and business owners is on the decline.

This government loves to splash its environmental credentials but has been left flat-footed and embarrassed with no solution.

The government continues to prove time and again it is on the go-slow when it comes to the environment. We saw it in the last term when Labor promised Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act reform but did not deliver, and again with delay after delay on the North West Shelf extension. We’re seeing it again with the South Australian algal bloom.

The warning signs were clear. The Albanese government didn’t listen, and calls for further support are falling on deaf ears.

So, to other states, buyer beware. We have seen no substantive response from the Albanese government on this environmental event. And now, they have failed South Australians.

Who will the government fail next?