❓ Hon Robin Chapple raises concerns about potential arsenic poisoning at the Barrick Kanowna Belle mine, requesting investigation and employee testing. The Minister deflects some questions to the Health Minister and avoids direct commitment to further action, referencing a previous answer.
AnsweredQoN 2537Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Barrick Kanowna Belle operations, analysis results of tests conducted on soil/mud and water samples for arsenic conducted by MPL Laboratories dated 5 May 2010, and a letter from Evan Spencer, General Mine Manager for Barrick Kanowna dated 9 June 2010, which are available for viewing at,
http://www.robinchapple.org.au/node/460
entitled ‘2010-05-05 Kanowna Belle Arsenic Trioxide Results.pdf’ and ‘2010-06-09 Kanowna Belle Arsenic Letter Evan Spencer.pdf, and ask -
(1) Is it correct that around 40 percent of arsenic, in a case of arsenic poisoning, is retained in the bones, muscles, skin, hair and nails, and does in fact take months to eliminate from the human body?
(2) If no to (1), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(3) Is it correct that arsenic poisoning, in addition to death, can result in the following long term health problems in adults and in children that they bear, -
(a) cardiovascular problems;
(b) liver problems;
(c) kidney problems;
(d) coagulation of the blood;
(e) high incidents of miscarriage;
(f) low birth weight; and
(g) congenital defects?
(4) If no to (3), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(5) In relation to above, is it correct that on 8 June 2010 a representative of an employee representative body contacted the management of Barrick Kanowna and informed them of the fact that these samples had been obtained and these test results had been received indicating that there were very high levels of arsenic in the ground water in the mine?
(6) If no to (5), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(7) Is it correct that during the conversation referred to in (5), the representative informed the management of the company that numerous complaints had been received indicating arsenic poisoning, expressed strong concern for the occupational health of the employees in the mine, and asked that independent individual testing of all employees in the mine would be conducted to verify and ensure their occupational health?
(8) If no to (7), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(9) Is it correct that to release all the details requested in the letter referred to above, would help the management of Kanowna Belle, identify the person or persons who took the samples?
(10) If no to (9), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(11) Will the Minister urgently require the Department of Environment and Conservation to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter, including a thorough independent individual testing of all employees, to ensure both the short term and the long term health of all employees working, and of all employees who have worked, in this mine since the arsenic trioxide has first been disposed of in the upper levels of this underground mine?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
http://www.robinchapple.org.au/node/460
entitled ‘2010-05-05 Kanowna Belle Arsenic Trioxide Results.pdf’ and ‘2010-06-09 Kanowna Belle Arsenic Letter Evan Spencer.pdf, and ask -
(1) Is it correct that around 40 percent of arsenic, in a case of arsenic poisoning, is retained in the bones, muscles, skin, hair and nails, and does in fact take months to eliminate from the human body?
(2) If no to (1), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(3) Is it correct that arsenic poisoning, in addition to death, can result in the following long term health problems in adults and in children that they bear, -
(a) cardiovascular problems;
(b) liver problems;
(c) kidney problems;
(d) coagulation of the blood;
(e) high incidents of miscarriage;
(f) low birth weight; and
(g) congenital defects?
(4) If no to (3), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(5) In relation to above, is it correct that on 8 June 2010 a representative of an employee representative body contacted the management of Barrick Kanowna and informed them of the fact that these samples had been obtained and these test results had been received indicating that there were very high levels of arsenic in the ground water in the mine?
(6) If no to (5), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(7) Is it correct that during the conversation referred to in (5), the representative informed the management of the company that numerous complaints had been received indicating arsenic poisoning, expressed strong concern for the occupational health of the employees in the mine, and asked that independent individual testing of all employees in the mine would be conducted to verify and ensure their occupational health?
(8) If no to (7), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(9) Is it correct that to release all the details requested in the letter referred to above, would help the management of Kanowna Belle, identify the person or persons who took the samples?
(10) If no to (9), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(11) Will the Minister urgently require the Department of Environment and Conservation to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter, including a thorough independent individual testing of all employees, to ensure both the short term and the long term health of all employees working, and of all employees who have worked, in this mine since the arsenic trioxide has first been disposed of in the upper levels of this underground mine?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 September 2010
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
77 days
(1) - (4) These questions should be referred to the Minister for Health.
(5)-(10) The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has advised me that it was not party to this conversation. This is a matter between Barrick Kanowna and the employee representative body.
(11)-(12) I refer the Honourable Member to my answer to Question 2315 on 15 June 2010
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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(5)-(10) The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has advised me that it was not party to this conversation. This is a matter between Barrick Kanowna and the employee representative body.
(11)-(12) I refer the Honourable Member to my answer to Question 2315 on 15 June 2010
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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