August 13, 2025 • 9 mins
Federal Environment Minister Senator Murray Watt joins Graeme Goodings on FIVEAA.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, the handling of South Australia's algal bloom crisis has
been nothing short of a disgrace, with their Premier Peter
Malahaskus and Federal Environment Minister Murray What accused of falling
asleep at the wheel after more than four months of
devastation to our coastline and shellfish industry, not to mention
the untold tens of thousands of dead marine life. The
federal government finally coughed up fourteen million dollars as a
(00:21):
rescue package, but only after public pressure and that pressure
had reached boiling point, and that was matched by fourteen
million dollars from the state Minister Murray What joins me now, Minister.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Good morning, Hi Graham, good to be with you.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Do you admit now that you made a mistake in
not taking the outbreak seriously and sooner?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Well, I, as I've said before, I can absolutely understand
the frustration and the level of concern among South Australians
about the alba bloom and the fact that it continues
much longer than anyone expected it would. So I've accepted
the criticism that people have made around my decisions and
(01:00):
efforts on this.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
So you know what you should have acted sooner?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Well, well, what I have said is that while I
may not have been visible in the way that people
would have liked me to have been, we have been
working for quite some time with the South Australian Government
around what was needed to help manage this event and
to support those being impacted. It's over three weeks now
since we announced our share of that twenty eight million
(01:25):
dollar funding package, and that came after a considerable period
of time working with the South Australian government to determine
what support was needed.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
When did you win? My first approach by the South
Australian government for help.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
I began talking with Susan Close, the South Australian Minister,
very soon after I became the Environment Minister, which was
mid May, so we've been talking about this for quite
some time. I realized the event has been going alonger
than that, but I took on this role in around
mid May, and very soon after that we started speaking
about the impact it was having. As I say, I
(02:00):
think the expectation was including among the scientists advising government,
that the event was likely to end much sooner than
it has. If you look at what's happened overseas around
these sorts of blooms. They have int tended to go
this long. So I think everyone has been surprised by
how long this has gone on. And of course, as
it has gone on longer, we've needed to adjust government responses.
(02:21):
So that's why we announced that funding package. It's why
we've now made a weather forecasting tool run by the
Bureau of Meteorology available for the public. And also, as
you would have seen yesterday, we've now taken our third
set of actions, which is to ask the Threatened Species
Committee to consider assessing the level of marine damage.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
This all should have been done months ago.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Look, as I say, I accept that people have views
about that, Graham, And so what.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
You're saying, you accept that people have views about it.
Do you accept that you should have reacted sooner?
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Well, as I say, Graham, I understand that frustrate that
people know.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
I know you understand the frustration. But do you accept
that you should have acted sooner?
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Well, I've already talked about this about this week, Graham,
and I.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Tell you don't accept you.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
I recognize that you, as an individual had been calling
for action for quite some time, you know, and what
I'm saying to you is that while we may not
have been visibly seen to be working on this, we
were regularly working and have been for some time with
the South Australian Government about what was needed.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Isn't it true that the Premier only approached you in
late July about it?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Oh? Look, I don't have the date as to which
the Premier approached me about it.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Forty First, of John, I believe it was.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Susan Close as the Deputy Premier and the Minister for
the Environment obviously was managing this event, and we had
been speaking about it regularly about the type of support
that was needed. And what that meant was that when
we received the request from the South Australian Government, we
turned it around within twenty four hours. And that's because
we'd made the taken the time to work with Australia
(04:00):
around what was required. That funding is now flowing. We'll
be investing, you know, through that package, more in science,
in business support and cleaning up the beaches. I'll leave
with others to express their views about the rights and
wrongs of it, but my focus has been on delivering
action to help start Australia through this event.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Why do you continue to refuse to classify the bloom
as a natural disaster?
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Well, for starters, Graham, that's actually not a decision I
can make as the Minister for Environment. But who makes
that decision that that is ultimately made? Well, that that
are those sorts of decisions ultimately made by the emergency
management the Minister, which is a portfolio I used to hold.
But who holds that now it's Kristin McBain is now.
(04:46):
But I support her her position and I support the
government's position, which is would.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
You recommend to her that it should be a natural disaster? Well,
because you've been here and you've seen it firsthand.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yeah, I have, and there's no out about the seriousness
of this event, Graham. But can I respectfully ask why
it is that you are seeking a declaration because my
impression from speaking to South Australians is that the reason
that people want this declaration made is because they think
that's the way that they'll get federal funding. We are
delivering federal funding. We're already delivering fourteen million as part
(05:20):
of that twenty eight million dollar package.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
It's been suggested that's a drop in the ocean to
what's really needed.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Well, not all of that funding has been used up
until our Graham. We're investing in the science through that
businesses are being supported and there's more funding available there
for businesses to access if they want to and if
they qualify for that funding. We've said that we will
consider any further request that South Australia makes of us,
and you know, we couldn't be working more closely with
(05:46):
the South Australian government on this. So for those who
feel that a declaration of some kind is required to
trigger federal funding, that's not the case. We've made that
funding available, just as we make funding ofailable for droughts.
The drought that South Australia is going through at the
moment isn't categorized as a natural disaster because like the
alble bloom, it's a long running event rather than a
(06:09):
quick event like a cyclone or a flotter or a fire.
But what we've focused on is not worrying too much
about what things are called, what declarations are made, but
what sort of funding is available and made available, and
that's what we've managed to do.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
It's a common health belief and no one has been
able to refute it that if this disaster happened on
Bondli Beach on the Gold Coast, on the Sunshine Coast,
in Port Pillip Bay, it would already be a major
national international story and declared a natural disaster.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
And again I understand that that's the view of South
Australian's I've heard that very clearly.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
You don't share that view. Well, what I.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Share is a desire for action to help support people
who are being impacted by this and to support the
marine environment, and that's what we've done. I will leave
it to others to make their decisions about how this
compares to other events in other states. My focus has
been for quite some time delivering the support South Australia
needs and working with the South Australian government, and that's
(07:11):
what we've done and that's what we'll continue to do.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
A lot of people thought your second visit here was
to make another donation or another contribution. Why did you
come a second time?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Well, I came a second time, Graham, because I wanted
to continue building my understanding of the event as it's unfolding.
We understand that this event doesn't sort of stay static,
and that there were continued needs and continued impacts and
I'll be back again next week next week with the
Prime Minister because we want to continue understanding the development
(07:43):
of this. So yesterday I was really thoroughly briefed by
scientists at the South Australian Government Research Institute. We obviously
went on water to inspect the elber bloom and to
take water samples to continue building that understanding. And also
yesterday afternoon I had a very productive roundtable over a
couple of hours with representatives of businesses who are impacted, councils,
(08:05):
environment groups again to hear directly from people about what
was required. We did make that announcement that I had
personally asked the Threatened Species Committee, the committee of experts
who looks at these things, to determine what impact this
event has had on marine life and what recommendations they
have to make. But again I repeat the point that
(08:27):
not all of the money that we've already provided has
been used and it's available for people to keep accessing.
So there's a substantial amount of money on the table
by both the federal government and the state government, and
that money remains available for people to access.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
We don't know if there will be an end to
this allgle Bloom. It could be here with us forever.
It was hope that it would go away. We need
to find out what's causing it and how to stop it.
Is the CSI I are involved, who is looking at
the problem at the moment.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Look, the primary research on this, Graham, is being conducted
through the South Australian government, their SARTY, the South Astrain
Research and Development Institute has some excellent scientists who are
working at this and examining this. We are obviously providing
support through federal agencies to that effort, but it's lot
the locally based scientists who have had the prime primary
(09:20):
role in examining the impacts. That will now change, of course,
now that we've also asked for Threatened Species to Committee
to have a look at it. That's a new step
that we've taken. But yeah, it's been primarily out of
South Australia.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Do you acknowledge that your your slave response has shaken
public confidence in your leadership as Environment Minister?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Again, Graham, I'll leave it to other people to draw
their make their own views about that. What I'm focused
on is supporting South Australia, delivering the funding, delivering the
other support that's required and I'll leave the commentary to others.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Minister Murray what thank you for your time today. Environment
Minister Murray Watts
Well, the handling of South Australia's algal bloom crisis has
been nothing short of a disgrace, with their Premier Peter
Malahaskus and Federal Environment Minister Murray What accused of falling
asleep at the wheel after more than four months of
devastation to our coastline and shellfish industry, not to mention
the untold tens of thousands of dead marine life. The
federal government finally coughed up fourteen million dollars as a
(00:21):
rescue package, but only after public pressure and that pressure
had reached boiling point, and that was matched by fourteen
million dollars from the state Minister Murray What joins me now, Minister.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Good morning, Hi Graham, good to be with you.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Do you admit now that you made a mistake in
not taking the outbreak seriously and sooner?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Well, I, as I've said before, I can absolutely understand
the frustration and the level of concern among South Australians
about the alba bloom and the fact that it continues
much longer than anyone expected it would. So I've accepted
the criticism that people have made around my decisions and
(01:00):
efforts on this.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
So you know what you should have acted sooner?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Well, well, what I have said is that while I
may not have been visible in the way that people
would have liked me to have been, we have been
working for quite some time with the South Australian Government
around what was needed to help manage this event and
to support those being impacted. It's over three weeks now
since we announced our share of that twenty eight million
(01:25):
dollar funding package, and that came after a considerable period
of time working with the South Australian government to determine
what support was needed.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
When did you win? My first approach by the South
Australian government for help.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
I began talking with Susan Close, the South Australian Minister,
very soon after I became the Environment Minister, which was
mid May, so we've been talking about this for quite
some time. I realized the event has been going alonger
than that, but I took on this role in around
mid May, and very soon after that we started speaking
about the impact it was having. As I say, I
(02:00):
think the expectation was including among the scientists advising government,
that the event was likely to end much sooner than
it has. If you look at what's happened overseas around
these sorts of blooms. They have int tended to go
this long. So I think everyone has been surprised by
how long this has gone on. And of course, as
it has gone on longer, we've needed to adjust government responses.
(02:21):
So that's why we announced that funding package. It's why
we've now made a weather forecasting tool run by the
Bureau of Meteorology available for the public. And also, as
you would have seen yesterday, we've now taken our third
set of actions, which is to ask the Threatened Species
Committee to consider assessing the level of marine damage.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
This all should have been done months ago.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Look, as I say, I accept that people have views
about that, Graham, And so what.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
You're saying, you accept that people have views about it.
Do you accept that you should have reacted sooner?
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Well, as I say, Graham, I understand that frustrate that
people know.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
I know you understand the frustration. But do you accept
that you should have acted sooner?
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Well, I've already talked about this about this week, Graham,
and I.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Tell you don't accept you.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
I recognize that you, as an individual had been calling
for action for quite some time, you know, and what
I'm saying to you is that while we may not
have been visibly seen to be working on this, we
were regularly working and have been for some time with
the South Australian Government about what was needed.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Isn't it true that the Premier only approached you in
late July about it?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Oh? Look, I don't have the date as to which
the Premier approached me about it.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Forty First, of John, I believe it was.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Susan Close as the Deputy Premier and the Minister for
the Environment obviously was managing this event, and we had
been speaking about it regularly about the type of support
that was needed. And what that meant was that when
we received the request from the South Australian Government, we
turned it around within twenty four hours. And that's because
we'd made the taken the time to work with Australia
(04:00):
around what was required. That funding is now flowing. We'll
be investing, you know, through that package, more in science,
in business support and cleaning up the beaches. I'll leave
with others to express their views about the rights and
wrongs of it, but my focus has been on delivering
action to help start Australia through this event.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Why do you continue to refuse to classify the bloom
as a natural disaster?
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Well, for starters, Graham, that's actually not a decision I
can make as the Minister for Environment. But who makes
that decision that that is ultimately made? Well, that that
are those sorts of decisions ultimately made by the emergency
management the Minister, which is a portfolio I used to hold.
But who holds that now it's Kristin McBain is now.
(04:46):
But I support her her position and I support the
government's position, which is would.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
You recommend to her that it should be a natural disaster? Well,
because you've been here and you've seen it firsthand.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yeah, I have, and there's no out about the seriousness
of this event, Graham. But can I respectfully ask why
it is that you are seeking a declaration because my
impression from speaking to South Australians is that the reason
that people want this declaration made is because they think
that's the way that they'll get federal funding. We are
delivering federal funding. We're already delivering fourteen million as part
(05:20):
of that twenty eight million dollar package.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
It's been suggested that's a drop in the ocean to
what's really needed.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Well, not all of that funding has been used up
until our Graham. We're investing in the science through that
businesses are being supported and there's more funding available there
for businesses to access if they want to and if
they qualify for that funding. We've said that we will
consider any further request that South Australia makes of us,
and you know, we couldn't be working more closely with
(05:46):
the South Australian government on this. So for those who
feel that a declaration of some kind is required to
trigger federal funding, that's not the case. We've made that
funding available, just as we make funding ofailable for droughts.
The drought that South Australia is going through at the
moment isn't categorized as a natural disaster because like the
alble bloom, it's a long running event rather than a
(06:09):
quick event like a cyclone or a flotter or a fire.
But what we've focused on is not worrying too much
about what things are called, what declarations are made, but
what sort of funding is available and made available, and
that's what we've managed to do.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
It's a common health belief and no one has been
able to refute it that if this disaster happened on
Bondli Beach on the Gold Coast, on the Sunshine Coast,
in Port Pillip Bay, it would already be a major
national international story and declared a natural disaster.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
And again I understand that that's the view of South
Australian's I've heard that very clearly.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
You don't share that view. Well, what I.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Share is a desire for action to help support people
who are being impacted by this and to support the
marine environment, and that's what we've done. I will leave
it to others to make their decisions about how this
compares to other events in other states. My focus has
been for quite some time delivering the support South Australia
needs and working with the South Australian government, and that's
(07:11):
what we've done and that's what we'll continue to do.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
A lot of people thought your second visit here was
to make another donation or another contribution. Why did you
come a second time?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Well, I came a second time, Graham, because I wanted
to continue building my understanding of the event as it's unfolding.
We understand that this event doesn't sort of stay static,
and that there were continued needs and continued impacts and
I'll be back again next week next week with the
Prime Minister because we want to continue understanding the development
(07:43):
of this. So yesterday I was really thoroughly briefed by
scientists at the South Australian Government Research Institute. We obviously
went on water to inspect the elber bloom and to
take water samples to continue building that understanding. And also
yesterday afternoon I had a very productive roundtable over a
couple of hours with representatives of businesses who are impacted, councils,
(08:05):
environment groups again to hear directly from people about what
was required. We did make that announcement that I had
personally asked the Threatened Species Committee, the committee of experts
who looks at these things, to determine what impact this
event has had on marine life and what recommendations they
have to make. But again I repeat the point that
(08:27):
not all of the money that we've already provided has
been used and it's available for people to keep accessing.
So there's a substantial amount of money on the table
by both the federal government and the state government, and
that money remains available for people to access.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
We don't know if there will be an end to
this allgle Bloom. It could be here with us forever.
It was hope that it would go away. We need
to find out what's causing it and how to stop it.
Is the CSI I are involved, who is looking at
the problem at the moment.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Look, the primary research on this, Graham, is being conducted
through the South Australian government, their SARTY, the South Astrain
Research and Development Institute has some excellent scientists who are
working at this and examining this. We are obviously providing
support through federal agencies to that effort, but it's lot
the locally based scientists who have had the prime primary
(09:20):
role in examining the impacts. That will now change, of course,
now that we've also asked for Threatened Species to Committee
to have a look at it. That's a new step
that we've taken. But yeah, it's been primarily out of
South Australia.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Do you acknowledge that your your slave response has shaken
public confidence in your leadership as Environment Minister?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Again, Graham, I'll leave it to other people to draw
their make their own views about that. What I'm focused
on is supporting South Australia, delivering the funding, delivering the
other support that's required and I'll leave the commentary to others.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Minister Murray what thank you for your time today. Environment
Minister Murray Watts
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