Transcript – Sky News Regional Breakfast with Jaynie Seal

Angie Bell MP

Shadow Minister for the Environment

Shadow Minister for Youth

Federal Member for Moncrieff

TRANSCRIPT

Sky News Regional Breakfast with Jaynie Seal

15 August 2025

Subjects: Labor’s too little, too late approach to the devastating algal bloom; Productivity Roundtable stitch up.

E&OE…………………………………………………………………………………………………

JAYNIE SEAL:

The federal and state governments are facing harsh criticism over the algal bloom crisis affecting the South Australian coast. Joining us for more is Shadow Minister for the Environment, Angie Bell. Angie, great to see you and thank you so much for joining us. Well, the government and opposition, were in South Australia this week, including yourself, to inspect the latest damage of the algal bloom crisis. What was discussed?

ANGIE BELL:

Well, it was great to be in South Australia for the second time, I have to say, in two weeks to take Sussan Ley to show her the damage that the algal bloom has caused on the South Australian coastline. And we visited the communities on the Yorke Peninsula who have been suffering so badly and are telling us that the government funding that’s been put on the table is too little and too late and too hard to apply for as well.

And so, these fishers haven’t been able to fish for over 100 days and they are asking for more help from the government. And what we’ve seen is Murray Watt on Monday apologise for the government’s flat-footedness on this issue and the Prime Minister is slated to go down there next week and I would expect him to issue another apology to the good people of South Australia for being so late to this issue. I mean, 18 months ago, Jaynie, the scientists in South Australia were telling the government and asking for funding, warning the government of this algal bloom risk and they were ignored and their pleas for funding was denied twice over two successive Labor Ministers. So now who’s not looking at the science?

JAYNIE SEAL:

And tell us more about the compensation that the people that have missed out, fishers and the like, are going to potentially receive.

ANGIE BELL:

So we, by putting pressure on the government, along with others, have managed to get $14 million out of the government for the local communities. And so, the state government also has matched that funding. Of course, that funding was very, very welcome in South Australia but simply not enough because this is a national disaster, it’s a natural disaster, and the government needs to do more for these communities who are hurting.

These ecosystems are going to take five to ten, perhaps even 15 years is what the fishers were telling us, to come back. And we’re hoping that the weather will intervene and move this algal bloom on. But at this point in time, the South Australian community has been left behind and the government has not supported them enough.

JAYNIE SEAL:

We are seeing a couple of fronts moving across the southeast looks like it’s probably going to affect mainly Victoria and Tasmania but what kind of weather patterns do you need to make some positive change here?

ANGIE BELL:

Well, usually there’s an early winter storm that brings down the temperature in the water, which kills off the algal bloom. And so, scientists are saying that this is a combination of nutrients in the water and higher water temperatures for longer. That early winter storm has not come along and broken up the algal bloom and therefore it’s now going into spring. And the big fear is that it will go into summer as well.

At the moment, the bloom is twice the size of the Australian Capital Territory and it is growing. And so, things are not looking good on the Yorke Peninsula. Can I just say to regional South Australians also that might be listening, please still eat your fish at the fish market because those retailers and those fishmongers need your help right now to support them in their small and family businesses.

JAYNIE SEAL:

All right, we’ve got about 30 seconds to go, Angie, but next week is a big one. We’ve got the economic roundtable and certainly a lot on the agenda to discuss. What will you be looking out for?

ANGIE BELL:

Well, obviously the government has flagged some EPBC reform, which I have to say they failed to do in the last term of government. They had three years to reform it. And this is in order to speed up housing approvals. I’ll be looking out for that. And, of course, we’ll have a look at whatever the government puts forward. But I’ll just say that, you know, the government seems to have a predetermination of the outcomes of this, and it seems that it’s a complete and utter stitch-up for all the stakeholders.

JAYNIE SEAL:

All right, Angie, thank you very much for joining us today.

ANGIE BELL:

Thanks, Jaynie.

ENDS.