Petroleum Bill

Extract from Hansard

Legislative Council
15 November 2001

Sandra Kanck
Deputy Leader Australian Democrats
Member of the Legislative Council

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The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Transport, representing the Minister for Human Services, a question concerning the need for a health audit of the inner western suburb of Brompton.

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: Last month the Channel 7 current affairs program Today Tonight carried a story about the Land Management Corporation's plans to sell the 6.6 hectares of vacant land it owns in Brompton. The LMC land, known locally as pugholes, was originally dug for its clay to make bricks. Various forms of industrial waste were then dumped into the excavated land. Large tracts of the former pugholes are now filled with uncompacted and, in places, highly toxic industrial waste.

As a consequence, the land has remained undeveloped despite its close proximity to the city. Rohan Wenn, the Channel 7 investigative journalist who covered the story, found alarming anecdotal evidence of high cancer rates and skin disorders amongst people and pets in the area. It is also clear that many locals believe the incidence of cancer is directly related to the pugholes. My questions are:

1. Will the minister initiate a longitudinal study of cancer rates within the suburb of Brompton? If not, why not?

2. What liability would attach to the state government should a causal link be determined between land owned by the Land Management Corporation and the incidence of cancer in Brompton?

3. Would the sale of the land to private developers in any way limit state government liability for the incidence of cancer related to the land owned by the Land Management Corporation?

The Hon. DIANA LAIDLAW (Minister for Transport and Urban Planning): I will refer the honourable member's questions to the minister and bring back a reply. In relation to the pugholes, I was prompted-and correctly by the Hon. Julian Stefani-about Labor's administration, pollution and other issues over some time. This is not a new issue, but nevertheless it is one that the government will consider.