<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The South Australian government has pledged $14 million to combat the toxic algal bloom devastating the state's coast, matching the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-government-announces-14-million-relief-package-for-toxic-algal-bloom/ee4cffaa-799c-441c-bbb3-9ff34ada6025" rel="" target="" title="federal government's own contribution announced yesterday"><span>federal government's own contribution announced yesterday</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A significant portion of the state funds will be directed towards enhanced monitoring efforts, using sensors and satellite imagery to track the movement of the algae. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A testing laboratory will also be established, ending the need to send samples overseas for analysis.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/tamika-chesser-south-australia-police-launch-new-searches-for-missing-remains/c98ab257-44be-4de7-b976-2cdffd1cb89f"><strong><span>Search for man's remains continues after former reality contestant charged</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have to prepare for the possibility this could be with us for some time to come and that's what my Government is doing," Premier Peter Malinauskas said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prioritising the health of fish stocks, $3 million has been earmarked to investigate the underwater impacts of the blooms. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Community support and beach clean-up initiatives will also receive a boost, alongside the provision of $10,000 small business grants. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/south-australia-state-government-relief-funding-toxic-algae/576e5ab3-959e-4152-86c0-4853974c7319" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the federal government is refusing requests to declare the algal bloom a natural disaster, prompting calls for a top-level inquiry in Canberra.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If we had dead dolphins washing up on Bondi Beach, do you think the prime minister would be saying 'oh but the criteria doesn't fit'?" federal Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/reserve-bank-reasons-hold-interest-rates-july-meeting-minutes/46c99c85-a17f-4598-a022-f1a637838457"><strong><span>RBA's surprise admission after shock interest rate call</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Malinauskas refused to label his government's funding a "one off" payment like Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt, saying South Australia was preparing a summer plan if the crisis continues.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He also defended criticism that the funding should have come sooner.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Well I'm not too sure who's making that criticism, apart from the opposition," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia has labelled that "absolute nonsense".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You could talk to anyone in the tourism, hospitality, and fishing sector who have been calling for relief for months," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>This article was produced with the assistance of</span></em><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/9express/16480c33-636a-461f-9c4f-d0e2522c722a"><em><span>9ExPress</span></em></a><em><span>.</span></em></div></div>