Toxic Inquiry must be broader

A Parliamentary Inquiry into the handling of toxic contamination at Edwardstown must be urgently broadened to investigate Labor’s handling of toxic contamination over the past decade.

Last week the State Liberals called for a Parliamentary Inquiry to look into Labor’s cover up of groundwater contamination in Edwardstown and South Plympton.

Today’s alarming revelations about airborne contamination in Port Pirie have raised more questions about the testing and notification procedures conducted by the government’s Environmental Protection Agency.
Notification concerns about health risks in Port Pirie add to a long list of poorly handled incidents that have potentially put the health and safety of South Australians at risk.

February 2011: It was revealed Labor had known about toxic groundwater at Edwardstown for 18 months but had failed to notify residents

October 2010: Labor withheld information about environmental contamination and explosion risks at Port Adelaide

February 2010: the EPA failed to notify residents about an explosive level of methane from rotting underground rubbish that had been detected beneath a popular Seacliff park.

Shadow Environment Minister Michelle Lensink said today’s revelations call into question Labor’s handling of all cases of potential contamination over the past decade.

“South Australians deserve to know if their health and safety has been put at risk by a negligent Labor Government,” Ms Lensink said.

“The State Liberals have serious concerns about Labor’s handling of toxic contamination sites.

“We will move to establish a Parliamentary Inquiry to investigate testing and notification procedures for environmental contamination across South Australia over the past decade.

“Toxic contamination occurs in some of our most vulnerable areas around the State and if Labor has been derelict in its duties to protect the well being of these South Australians then they must be held to account.”