Algal Bloom a feature in first Sitting Week back

The continuing impact of the Algal Bloom was raised a lot in the chamber last week from multiple MPs, with agreement from all (finally) that this is a massive issue.

My own activity included two questions in Question Time and a Grieve speech lamenting the lack of action since 18 June when my motion calling for urgent action was passed yet generated very little, and also the fact the roll out of business support payments has been too slow and additionally, not communicated effectively.

I have been advocating for increased support for our oyster growers, commercial fishers and seafood and tourism businesses, and pleasingly there has been some positive outcomes this week in this regard -- including some money reaching actual hands.

The questions I raised were about assistance for community groups staging annual events which may prove to be impacted, as well as the need for additional support for affected pubs and hospitality businesses. The answers yielded some hope that such measures would be considered by government.

I welcome the weekend’s announced “Coast is Calling” travel voucher program, designed to entice tourists back to our shores, and hope they prove to be popular.

My other actions in Parliament last week were questioning the reasoning behind the SA Government outsourcing the SA Police removals tender process to a company in NSW which is sorely impacting local removalists; and introducing a Private Members Bill that seeks to better compensate households and businesses for extended power outages.

Of the latter, my National Energy Retail Law (Small Compensation Claims Regime) Amendment Bill 2025 proposes recognition of any unplanned supply interruption of more than 8 hours (attributable to a transmission or distribution network service provider) as a claimable incident under the existing Small Claims Compensation Scheme, not just voltage variations which is currently the case.

I look forward now to receiving feedback from providers, community, the Government and the Opposition, as this legislation progresses.

Grants

Please visit the Grants tab of this website for new funding opportunities just opened.

They include the Active Club for sports clubs, the SA Football Facilities Fund, and new grants to help SA businesses cut power bills.