For months, the coastline in South Australia has been under attack by a toxic algal bloom.
So far, most of the response has been led by the local community, without any formal government support.
This is simply not good enough.
If there were dead fish washing up on Bondi Beach every day, there would be a national outcry and response.
South Australians deserve the same support from our federal government that east-coast states would demand.
A declaration of a national disaster is important to ensure communities and industries that are bearing the brunt of this crisis can access the resources they need, including climate mitigation and adaptation.
The scientists tell us that we could be facing another 18 months with this toxic algal bloom.
Our oceans have suffered through an extreme marine heatwave that has seen temperatures reach an average of 2.5°C warmer than usual.
This has created the perfect conditions for the bloom to spread, and has even seen it venture into the Northern lagoon of the Coorong which we know is already an incredibly fragile ecosystem.
To protect our important industries we need a proper support package, and that means the PM must declare this as it is: a national disaster.
Image: RAD K.I.