Federal Nationals Senator, and Shadow Minister for Water, Emergency Management, and Fisheries and Forestry, Ross Cadell, has welcomed Labor’s commitment of $14 million to assist with a toxic algal bloom outbreak in South Australia, but questioned the lack of detail released with the announcement.

Senator Cadell will on Wednesday introduce a notice of motion to the Senate calling for an inquiry into the effects of the disaster, having last week visited the small towns of Stansbury and Port Wakefield on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula with local MP, Tom Venning. The Notice of Motion has been co-signed by Senator Karen Grogan, and Senator Andrew McLachlan CSC.

“This is far more than an environmental event,” Cadell said.

“The people of South Australia need more than a promise of funding. They need clear answers on what the money will be used for, and how it will support them.

“Without support, this algal bloom could lead to a grave economic and community crisis for the people of the Yorke Peninsula.”

“These people have survived through drought in recent years and are now faced with another natural disaster outside of their control.”

“In Stansbury, I heard from locals who may have to shut the doors on their businesses if support isn’t forthcoming.”

Senator Cadell’s Notice of Motion seeks for the Senate’s Environment and Communications References Committee to scrutinise the ecological, economic, cultural and social impacts of the disaster, with a report to be returned to the Senate in early 2026.

It also includes provision to investigate the causes, frequency, scale and duration of recent algal blooms in South Australia, the impacts on Indigenous communities, adequacy of current Government response, and current compensation and recovery arrangements for impacted industries and communities.

“By holding an inquiry, we get the chance to hear from affected communities and industry experts about what could have been done differently,” Cadell said.