Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In this chamber, we have done as much as we can as quickly as we can—Senator Grogan, Senator McLachlan and I moved a motion—about the algal bloom stuff, but we need more. We need more out there. People need to ask what they can do to help. I note Senator Hanson-Young has made great steps as chair of the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee to bring on the pace of this inquiry, and we will get down there and do what we can do. But when we see Bart Butson from Port Wakefield and see Steve Bowley, an oyster grower who hasn't been able to sell an oyster for over 100 days—that's part of the problem going forward. People are catching or growing seafood and are bringing it to market, but it's not selling.

So I'm here to say help out by getting South Australian fish on your plate now. If it is being sold, it is safe. If you're seeing King George whiting out there, buy it. If you're seeing garfish, buy it. If you're seeing Coffin Bay oysters, get them. Let's get 'boat to barbie' happening to support the industry and to support these people going out there. These people are doing it tough. We in this Senate are trying to see what we can do to make it better, but, out there in the everyday world, when you go to the shops and you go to the pubs, ask for these things. It is a real commonsense way to help these communities out. They're seeing people cancelling holidays. The bad news about this algal bloom is that, while it is troublesome, the negative publicity it is carrying to this area and the seafood industry is really bad. It is safe. It is tasty. It is delicious. So get down there. As I said, they're from boat to barbie. Support your South Australian seafood industry, and we'll be down there to help out soon.