Part 7/10:
The South Australian government is actively seeking federal assistance, with Acting Premier Susan Close confirming that a request for disaster recovery funding is underway. However, the process is complicated by the criteria set for classifying events as natural disasters. Currently, federal disaster assistance only covers rapid-onset events like bushfires, earthquakes, and floods, which does not neatly include slow-developing ecological crises like algal blooms.
This bureaucratic classification poses a significant obstacle. As Close pointed out, "the environment and our climate don't abide by bureaucratic lists and checklists," and suggested that legislation could be adapted to fit emerging circumstances.