A parliamentary question addresses community health concerns in Kwinana's air buffer zone, focusing on a received letter, anecdotal evidence, actions taken, and the refusal of a full health assessment. The Minister acknowledges the concerns and outlines steps taken, including a health survey and the establishment of a forum.

AnsweredQoN 1102Legislative Council
Asked
25 November 2004
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

(1) The community representatives on the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum wrote to the Minister for Health in September 2004 outlining their concerns. (a) Has that letter been received; (b) has it been acknowledged or a full response been given; and (c) if not, why not? (2) Community concern in the Kwinana air buffer zone regarding health issues is very high. Is there any evidence, anecdotal or otherwise, to support this concern? (3) What steps has the minister taken to - (a) acknowledge this concern; and (b) deal with the issues that are driving it? (4) Why is the Government refusing to undertake a full health assessment of current and former residents of the Kwinana air buffer zone and immediately neighbouring suburbs? Hon SUE ELLERY

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Yes. An e-mail was received in the Minister for Health’s office on 28 September 2004. (b) A response has been prepared and will be forwarded shortly. (c) The response has been delayed to enable the results of a recently completed health survey to be assessed by the Department of Health, and to allow members of the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum to be briefed. (2) Anecdotal concerns have been related to the Department of Health. (3) (a) The Minister for Health and the Ministerial Council on Health, Environment and Industry Sustainability have set up the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum. The forum is composed of community interest groups, the Kwinana Industries Council and senior state and local government officers. (b) The Department of Health has examined cancer rates in the Cockburn, Kwinana and Rockingham areas, and recently completed a health survey of over 3 000 residents in those areas. (4) The Department of Health will be working with community representatives of the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum to determine the most appropriate action in response to the survey results.
(b) has it been acknowledged or a full response been given; and (c) if not, why not?
(c) if not, why not?
(3) What steps has the minister taken to - (a) acknowledge this concern; and (b) deal with the issues that are driving it? (4) Why is the Government refusing to undertake a full health assessment of current and former residents of the Kwinana air buffer zone and immediately neighbouring suburbs? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Yes. An e-mail was received in the Minister for Health’s office on 28 September 2004. (b) A response has been prepared and will be forwarded shortly. (c) The response has been delayed to enable the results of a recently completed health survey to be assessed by the Department of Health, and to allow members of the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum to be briefed. (2) Anecdotal concerns have been related to the Department of Health. (3) (a) The Minister for Health and the Ministerial Council on Health, Environment and Industry Sustainability have set up the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum. The forum is composed of community interest groups, the Kwinana Industries Council and senior state and local government officers. (b) The Department of Health has examined cancer rates in the Cockburn, Kwinana and Rockingham areas, and recently completed a health survey of over 3 000 residents in those areas. (4) The Department of Health will be working with community representatives of the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum to determine the most appropriate action in response to the survey results.
(b) deal with the issues that are driving it?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Yes. An e-mail was received in the Minister for Health’s office on 28 September 2004. (b) A response has been prepared and will be forwarded shortly. (c) The response has been delayed to enable the results of a recently completed health survey to be assessed by the Department of Health, and to allow members of the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum to be briefed. (2) Anecdotal concerns have been related to the Department of Health. (3) (a) The Minister for Health and the Ministerial Council on Health, Environment and Industry Sustainability have set up the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum. The forum is composed of community interest groups, the Kwinana Industries Council and senior state and local government officers. (b) The Department of Health has examined cancer rates in the Cockburn, Kwinana and Rockingham areas, and recently completed a health survey of over 3 000 residents in those areas. (4) The Department of Health will be working with community representatives of the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum to determine the most appropriate action in response to the survey results.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) (a) Yes. An e-mail was received in the Minister for Health’s office on 28 September 2004. (b) A response has been prepared and will be forwarded shortly. (c) The response has been delayed to enable the results of a recently completed health survey to be assessed by the Department of Health, and to allow members of the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum to be briefed. (2) Anecdotal concerns have been related to the Department of Health. (3) (a) The Minister for Health and the Ministerial Council on Health, Environment and Industry Sustainability have set up the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum. The forum is composed of community interest groups, the Kwinana Industries Council and senior state and local government officers. (b) The Department of Health has examined cancer rates in the Cockburn, Kwinana and Rockingham areas, and recently completed a health survey of over 3 000 residents in those areas. (4) The Department of Health will be working with community representatives of the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum to determine the most appropriate action in response to the survey results.
(1) (a) Yes. An e-mail was received in the Minister for Health’s office on 28 September 2004. (b) A response has been prepared and will be forwarded shortly. (c) The response has been delayed to enable the results of a recently completed health survey to be assessed by the Department of Health, and to allow members of the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum to be briefed. (2) Anecdotal concerns have been related to the Department of Health. (3) (a) The Minister for Health and the Ministerial Council on Health, Environment and Industry Sustainability have set up the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum. The forum is composed of community interest groups, the Kwinana Industries Council and senior state and local government officers. (b) The Department of Health has examined cancer rates in the Cockburn, Kwinana and Rockingham areas, and recently completed a health survey of over 3 000 residents in those areas. (4) The Department of Health will be working with community representatives of the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum to determine the most appropriate action in response to the survey results.
(c) The response has been delayed to enable the results of a recently completed health survey to be assessed by the Department of Health, and to allow members of the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum to be briefed.
(3) (a) The Minister for Health and the Ministerial Council on Health, Environment and Industry Sustainability have set up the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum. The forum is composed of community interest groups, the Kwinana Industries Council and senior state and local government officers. (b) The Department of Health has examined cancer rates in the Cockburn, Kwinana and Rockingham areas, and recently completed a health survey of over 3 000 residents in those areas. (4) The Department of Health will be working with community representatives of the Kwinana Environmental Health Forum to determine the most appropriate action in response to the survey results.

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