Rising Tide protesters demand money from Santos for South Australia’s toxic algal bloom event

Protesters tried to confront the CEO of South Australian oil and gas giant Santos on Wednesday, demanding money to clean up the state’s algal bloom disaster.

Environmentalists have tried to enter the Adelaide headquarters of oil and gas giant Santos, demanding millions of dollars in compensation for South Australia’s growing algal bloom disaster.

The Rising Tide protesters chanted “make them pay” and sang songs before carrying a box of letters from South Australians impacted by the bloom to the front door of the corporate giant’s office.

The letters were intended for Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher, but the protesters were blocked from the front door and then moved to a side street door, but were blocked again by a security guard.

“Tacit consent has been removed, you are not allowed to come inside the building,” the guard informed the two-dozen protesters as they moved to the side street door.

A protester asked if Mr Gallagher was “refusing” to come down and meet with the protesters.

The guard replied he could not speak for Mr Gallagher, but the protesters were not permitted to enter the building.

“You were hi-vis all the time but you’re invisible today, Kevin,” a protester shouted out.

Rising Tide credit fossil fuel companies for climate change, which they believe in turn has caused rolling waves of toxic algae bloom to wash up along South Australia’s coastline.

Rising Tide protesters blame Santos for South Australia’s algal bloom event. Picture: RoyVPhotography

The two-dozen protesters chanted ‘make Santos pay’ on the street outside the company’s head office. Picture: RoyVPhotography

The bloom can cause short-term skin or eye irritation, and is having a sharp economic impact on the state’s $500m fisheries industry.

Rising Tide member Indi Wishart, speaking outside the office on Wednesday, told NewsWire Santos and other fossil fuel companies should pay out to help clean up the bloom.

“Last year Santos paid over $700m to their shareholders alone, I think it’s easy for them to contribute a portion of that towards dealing with climate disasters,” the Adelaide local said.

“This won’t be the only algal bloom, there will be more climate disasters, so we’re going to need as much money as we can from these big polluters to start dealing with the crises they are causing.”

Wishart said government intervention should “force” fossil fuel companies to pay and all major industrial and energy companies should face levies.

The bloom has likely been caused by three interconnected factors, the South Australian Department for Environment and Water has said.

Santos is a major South Australian company with a market capitalisation of some $25bn. Picture: RoyVPhotography

First, a marine heatwave, starting in September 2024, has warmed sea temperatures about 2.5C more than normal.

Second, the 2022-23 River Murray floods washed extra nutrients into the sea, and third, a cold water upwelling in the summer of 2023-24 pulled nutrient-rich water to the surface.

The bloom could last for months, the department warned.

Santos is South Australia’s star corporate entity with a market capitalisation of some $25bn.

It boasts large-scale operations and projects in South Australia, WA, Papua New Guinea and Alaska.

It is currently the subject of a $30bn takeover bid from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

Santos has been contacted for comment on the protest.

South Australian Greens member Robert Simms, meanwhile, said on Wednesday afternoon he would propose a new “fossil fuel levy” to the parliament.

“We need a fossil fuel levy in South Australia to make polluters like Santos pay for the damage their products cause,” he said.

“It shouldn’t be up to everyday taxpayers to foot the bill.”

Originally published as Rising Tide protesters demand money from Santos for South Australia’s toxic algal bloom event