Environment Minister David Speirs facing code of conduct complaints, possible legal action, for comments about scientist Peri Coleman

Comments made by the Environment Minister about an Adelaide scientist Labor says is used by his own department could come back to haunt him. Read what he said here.

Environment Minister David Speirs is facing two code of conduct complaints and possible legal action over remarks he made on radio about a scientist who blew the whistle on the St Kilda mangroves die-off.

Ten environmental groups have also banded together to call on Mr Speirs to apologise to ecologist and scientist Peri Coleman over the comments.

Ms Coleman says she is “shocked and shaken” by remarks made by Mr Speirs on ABC Radio.

On behalf of Ms Coleman, Greens MLC Tammy Franks and Opposition environment spokeswoman Susan Close have both lodged complaints about the minister’s conduct with Premier Steven Marshall.

They, along with the environmental groups including Conservation Council SA, Landcare SA, Marine Life Society of SA, Tennyson Dunes Group and National Trust SA, claim Mr Speirs breached a section of the Ministerial Code of Conduct that states a Minister “shall not dishonestly or wantonly and recklessly attack the reputation of any other person”.

In state parliament on Tuesday, Mr Speirs acknowledged Ms Coleman was “someone of significant experience” but she was not the person his agencies chose to seek advice from.

“I have not attacked or undermined her,” he said.

Environment Minister David Speirs. Picture: AAP / Sarah Marshall

Independent scientist Peri Coleman of Delta Environmental Consulting on the St Kilda boardwalk. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Mr Marshall said he did not believe Mr Speirs had breached the code.

The complaints arose from an interview Mr Speirs took part in on ABC Radio on October 19 in which he was answering questions about the mangrove die-off at St Kilda. During the interview he referred to Ms Coleman as a “self-proclaimed independent scientist”.

ABC presenter David Bevan put to Mr Speirs that Ms Coleman was credible.

Mr Speirs replied: “Well I’m not going to rely on Peri Coleman’s anecdotal evidence …”

Mr Bevan: “Her scientific analysis …”

Mr Speirs: “That’s your assessment of Peri Coleman.”

About 10ha of mangroves and 35ha of saltmarsh died in 2020 after disused and dry salt evaporation ponds were filled with hypersaline water and then slowly leaked.

Ms Coleman – who holds a Master of Applied Science in Environmental Management and Restoration and has been running an independent environmental consultancy firm since 1993 – was the first person to raise concerns with authorities about the state of some of the mangroves. She attended the site with environment department staff to make an initial assessment of the damage.

Ms Coleman told The Advertiser the comments were “more than usually egregious as I am a sole trader business that makes a living from providing scientific advice”.

“Calling my qualifications and integrity into question may well have a direct impact on my ability to earn a living,” she said.

Ms Coleman said if Mr Speirs did not apologise or she did not receive a satisfactory outcome from the complaints “I will be seeking legal advice”.

Ms Franks said Mr Speirs “publicly disparages and disregards Peri’s work, appearing to call her integrity, independence, motives and qualifications into question”.

She said Mr Speirs‘ own department “has sought (Ms Coleman’s) advice on various environmental issues in the past – clearly not doubting her knowledge, expertise or credentials”.

Ms Close said Mr Speirs’ comments were “unbecoming for a Minister of the Crown” and she urged Mr Marshall to investigate the incident.

The group of environmental organisations issued a statement saying Ms Coleman was “held in high esteem across the science and academic worlds, the general community and within state and local government, and across the international salt field ecology community”.

“The personal attacks on our scientists, who give freely to the public good, need to stop,” they wrote.

Mr Marshall said he had seen Mr Speirs’ comments and “I don’t believe there is any breach”.

“Ms Coleman is clearly very passionate about the mangroves, as I believe is the Minister, but it is entirely appropriate for the Minister to rely on the advice provided by the EPA as the independent regulator,” he said.