❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the State Development Minister regarding a review of a Wagerup refinery worker's illness, potential links to refinery emissions, and the independence of involved medical professionals. The Minister provides answers regarding the qualifications of doctors involved and Alcoa's willingness to share the review report.
AnsweredQoN 663Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
In regard to a letter from the Minister for State Development to Mr Ian McDonald Grant on June 28 2001 (ref 10-3313), the Minister stated that a review carried out by the physician, Dr Brian Galton-Fenzi, found that the evidence ‘does not support an association between exposure to those types and quantities of atmospheric contaminants experienced at Wagerup, and the onset of your Goodpastures syndrome’, and I ask -
(1) Who are the independent doctors and the toxicologist mentioned in the letter who concluded that exposure to refinery emissions would not cause long-term health effects?
(2) What qualifications does each of these individuals have to assess and provide medical advice on human health effects of these industrial emissions?
(3) Is the Minister aware that other employees at Wagerup are suffering long-term health effects as a result of workplace exposure?
(4) Did Dr Galton-Fenzi measure the emissions from the fire at the Wagerup refinery that was extinguished by Mr Grant on July 28 1999?
(5) If yes, what compounds were in those emissions and at what levels were they measured?
(6) Did Dr Galton-Fenzi measure dust, volatile organic compounds and other contaminants that Mr Grant was exposed to when he fitted sound-proofing equipment in the liquor burning unit (LBU) stack?
(7) If yes, what compounds were present in the emissions and at what levels were they measured?
(8) Was Dr Galton-Fenzi acting as a consultant for ALCOA at or before the time Mr Grant’s illness was reviewed?
(9) Will the Minister table the review report and supporting documents from the toxicologist?
(10) If not, why not?
(1) Who are the independent doctors and the toxicologist mentioned in the letter who concluded that exposure to refinery emissions would not cause long-term health effects?
(2) What qualifications does each of these individuals have to assess and provide medical advice on human health effects of these industrial emissions?
(3) Is the Minister aware that other employees at Wagerup are suffering long-term health effects as a result of workplace exposure?
(4) Did Dr Galton-Fenzi measure the emissions from the fire at the Wagerup refinery that was extinguished by Mr Grant on July 28 1999?
(5) If yes, what compounds were in those emissions and at what levels were they measured?
(6) Did Dr Galton-Fenzi measure dust, volatile organic compounds and other contaminants that Mr Grant was exposed to when he fitted sound-proofing equipment in the liquor burning unit (LBU) stack?
(7) If yes, what compounds were present in the emissions and at what levels were they measured?
(8) Was Dr Galton-Fenzi acting as a consultant for ALCOA at or before the time Mr Grant’s illness was reviewed?
(9) Will the Minister table the review report and supporting documents from the toxicologist?
(10) If not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
27 June 2002
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
37 days
(1) Dr Roger Drew and Professor Bill Musk. (2). Dr Drew was Adjunct Professor of Biochemical Toxicology at RMIT University, Victoria and has been a toxicological consultant to Australian Federal and State Authorities. Professor Musk is Professor of Clinical Medicine and Public Health at the University of Western Australia. He consults at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands. (3). The Minister is very aware of employee concerns relating to possible health effects from workplace exposure. (4). No. (5). N/A (6). No. (7). N/A (8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(2). Dr Drew was Adjunct Professor of Biochemical Toxicology at RMIT University, Victoria and has been a toxicological consultant to Australian Federal and State Authorities. Professor Musk is Professor of Clinical Medicine and Public Health at the University of Western Australia. He consults at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands. (3). The Minister is very aware of employee concerns relating to possible health effects from workplace exposure. (4). No. (5). N/A (6). No. (7). N/A (8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
Professor Musk is Professor of Clinical Medicine and Public Health at the University of Western Australia. He consults at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands. (3). The Minister is very aware of employee concerns relating to possible health effects from workplace exposure. (4). No. (5). N/A (6). No. (7). N/A (8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(3). The Minister is very aware of employee concerns relating to possible health effects from workplace exposure. (4). No. (5). N/A (6). No. (7). N/A (8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(4). No. (5). N/A (6). No. (7). N/A (8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(5). N/A (6). No. (7). N/A (8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(6). No. (7). N/A (8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(7). N/A (8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(10). N/A
(2). Dr Drew was Adjunct Professor of Biochemical Toxicology at RMIT University, Victoria and has been a toxicological consultant to Australian Federal and State Authorities. Professor Musk is Professor of Clinical Medicine and Public Health at the University of Western Australia. He consults at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands. (3). The Minister is very aware of employee concerns relating to possible health effects from workplace exposure. (4). No. (5). N/A (6). No. (7). N/A (8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
Professor Musk is Professor of Clinical Medicine and Public Health at the University of Western Australia. He consults at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands. (3). The Minister is very aware of employee concerns relating to possible health effects from workplace exposure. (4). No. (5). N/A (6). No. (7). N/A (8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(3). The Minister is very aware of employee concerns relating to possible health effects from workplace exposure. (4). No. (5). N/A (6). No. (7). N/A (8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(4). No. (5). N/A (6). No. (7). N/A (8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(5). N/A (6). No. (7). N/A (8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(6). No. (7). N/A (8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(7). N/A (8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(8). Dr Galton-Fenzi had acted as a consultant to Alcoa prior to the review of Mr Grant's illness, but at the time of that review was not contracted to Alcoa. (9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(9). Alcoa have advised they will provide the report if approached by the Hon. Member. (10). N/A
(10). N/A
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