❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks updates on the establishment of a monitoring program for Agricultural Protection Board (APB) workers exposed to 2,4,5-T, access to support mechanisms, and the tabling of a 2004 register. The Minister responded, indicating progress on advice but declining to table information due to ongoing work and privacy concerns.
AnsweredQoN 2461Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the answers to questions on notice 2233 and 2125, asked by Hon Robin Chapple on 25 June and 9 May respectively, in relation to exposure of Agricultural Protection Board (APB) workers to 2,4,5-T, and ask: (a) has the Minister sought advice in relation to the establishment of a monitoring programme, as per the answer to question on notice 2233: (i) if no to (a), why not; and (ii) from whom did the Minister seek advice; (b) would the Minister table all relevant information and recommendations related to (a); (c) of the other mechanisms that were used to inform and support former APB workers who may have been exposed to 2,4,5- T, which of these are still available to former APB workers; and (d) will the Minister please table the 2004 register, discussed in question on notice 2233, with personal information redacted by use of ID number or similar method: (i) if no to (d), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
23 October 2019
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
10 days
(a) Yes
(i) Not applicable.
(ii) The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
b) No, as the recommendations have not yet been finalised. Work is being done to clarify the number of claims and payments made, the nature of the cancers that have been associated with the use of 2,4,5-T and what screening mechanisms might be available for these cancers.
c) None.
d) No.
(i) The register was a working document used by Department of Agriculture staff to facilitate worker’s compensation claims and mainly comprises personally identifiable information about individuals. The level of non identifiable information on the register varies significantly and was intended to be indicative rather than exhaustive, with specific details subject to verification against employment records, other information obtained from the Kimberley Chemical Use Review as well as the expert medical panel’s report. Therefore, the information that could be tabled would be incomplete and unconfirmed and the public interest would not be served by its disclosure.
(i) Not applicable.
(ii) The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
b) No, as the recommendations have not yet been finalised. Work is being done to clarify the number of claims and payments made, the nature of the cancers that have been associated with the use of 2,4,5-T and what screening mechanisms might be available for these cancers.
c) None.
d) No.
(i) The register was a working document used by Department of Agriculture staff to facilitate worker’s compensation claims and mainly comprises personally identifiable information about individuals. The level of non identifiable information on the register varies significantly and was intended to be indicative rather than exhaustive, with specific details subject to verification against employment records, other information obtained from the Kimberley Chemical Use Review as well as the expert medical panel’s report. Therefore, the information that could be tabled would be incomplete and unconfirmed and the public interest would not be served by its disclosure.
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