❓ Question regarding the WA government's plan to address lead contamination in Esperance following the Premier's visit, criticising the previous government's handling of the issue.
AnsweredQoN 33Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ESPERANCE — LEAD CONTAMINATION
I refer to the lead contamination at Esperance and the sub-standard response by the previous government. Following the Premier’s visit to Esperance on Monday, what types of action will the state government take to address the very real health and environmental concerns of the Esperance community? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to the lead contamination at Esperance and the sub-standard response by the previous government. Following the Premier’s visit to Esperance on Monday, what types of action will the state government take to address the very real health and environmental concerns of the Esperance community? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question and I congratulate him on his election to Deputy Speaker. After Wittenoom, the contamination in Esperance is probably the most severe environmental pollution issue this state may have faced given its potential effect on public health. In my view, it was not well handled by the previous government. Indeed, the previous government was in denial about the whole issue. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That’s just nonsense. We acknowledged it immediately and we cancelled lead shipments the day it was announced. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members will remember the debate when members now on the government side argued for a parliamentary committee to investigate the situation, and members opposite, including the member interjecting, disowned the issue; they argued against a committee being established. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : We agreed to it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They were forced to have an inquiry. Eventually, the committee chaired by the now Deputy Premier did an excellent job. Let us deal with the issue now. The previous government promised to do something about the immediate problem of the safety of drinking water, bearing in mind many people use rainwater tanks. Reverse osmosis filters were promised back in February. It was not done. They are being delivered to people in need in Esperance this week. There are still 9 000 tonnes of lead carbonate on the port at Esperance. The former government did not remove it. We are now negotiating for the packing, insertion into a container and removal of that 9 000 tonnes. It will fill something like 300 container loads. Members opposite did not do that. They did a partial clean-up of parts of the town and some affected properties. They did not do a full and proper clean-up. That needs to be attended to. The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for the question and I congratulate him on his election to Deputy Speaker. After Wittenoom, the contamination in Esperance is probably the most severe environmental pollution issue this state may have faced given its potential effect on public health. In my view, it was not well handled by the previous government. Indeed, the previous government was in denial about the whole issue. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That’s just nonsense. We acknowledged it immediately and we cancelled lead shipments the day it was announced. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members will remember the debate when members now on the government side argued for a parliamentary committee to investigate the situation, and members opposite, including the member interjecting, disowned the issue; they argued against a committee being established. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : We agreed to it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They were forced to have an inquiry. Eventually, the committee chaired by the now Deputy Premier did an excellent job. Let us deal with the issue now. The previous government promised to do something about the immediate problem of the safety of drinking water, bearing in mind many people use rainwater tanks. Reverse osmosis filters were promised back in February. It was not done. They are being delivered to people in need in Esperance this week. There are still 9 000 tonnes of lead carbonate on the port at Esperance. The former government did not remove it. We are now negotiating for the packing, insertion into a container and removal of that 9 000 tonnes. It will fill something like 300 container loads. Members opposite did not do that. They did a partial clean-up of parts of the town and some affected properties. They did not do a full and proper clean-up. That needs to be attended to. The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
I thank the member for the question and I congratulate him on his election to Deputy Speaker. After Wittenoom, the contamination in Esperance is probably the most severe environmental pollution issue this state may have faced given its potential effect on public health. In my view, it was not well handled by the previous government. Indeed, the previous government was in denial about the whole issue. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That’s just nonsense. We acknowledged it immediately and we cancelled lead shipments the day it was announced. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members will remember the debate when members now on the government side argued for a parliamentary committee to investigate the situation, and members opposite, including the member interjecting, disowned the issue; they argued against a committee being established. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : We agreed to it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They were forced to have an inquiry. Eventually, the committee chaired by the now Deputy Premier did an excellent job. Let us deal with the issue now. The previous government promised to do something about the immediate problem of the safety of drinking water, bearing in mind many people use rainwater tanks. Reverse osmosis filters were promised back in February. It was not done. They are being delivered to people in need in Esperance this week. There are still 9 000 tonnes of lead carbonate on the port at Esperance. The former government did not remove it. We are now negotiating for the packing, insertion into a container and removal of that 9 000 tonnes. It will fill something like 300 container loads. Members opposite did not do that. They did a partial clean-up of parts of the town and some affected properties. They did not do a full and proper clean-up. That needs to be attended to. The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
After Wittenoom, the contamination in Esperance is probably the most severe environmental pollution issue this state may have faced given its potential effect on public health. In my view, it was not well handled by the previous government. Indeed, the previous government was in denial about the whole issue. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That’s just nonsense. We acknowledged it immediately and we cancelled lead shipments the day it was announced. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members will remember the debate when members now on the government side argued for a parliamentary committee to investigate the situation, and members opposite, including the member interjecting, disowned the issue; they argued against a committee being established. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : We agreed to it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They were forced to have an inquiry. Eventually, the committee chaired by the now Deputy Premier did an excellent job. Let us deal with the issue now. The previous government promised to do something about the immediate problem of the safety of drinking water, bearing in mind many people use rainwater tanks. Reverse osmosis filters were promised back in February. It was not done. They are being delivered to people in need in Esperance this week. There are still 9 000 tonnes of lead carbonate on the port at Esperance. The former government did not remove it. We are now negotiating for the packing, insertion into a container and removal of that 9 000 tonnes. It will fill something like 300 container loads. Members opposite did not do that. They did a partial clean-up of parts of the town and some affected properties. They did not do a full and proper clean-up. That needs to be attended to. The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That’s just nonsense. We acknowledged it immediately and we cancelled lead shipments the day it was announced. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members will remember the debate when members now on the government side argued for a parliamentary committee to investigate the situation, and members opposite, including the member interjecting, disowned the issue; they argued against a committee being established. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : We agreed to it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They were forced to have an inquiry. Eventually, the committee chaired by the now Deputy Premier did an excellent job. Let us deal with the issue now. The previous government promised to do something about the immediate problem of the safety of drinking water, bearing in mind many people use rainwater tanks. Reverse osmosis filters were promised back in February. It was not done. They are being delivered to people in need in Esperance this week. There are still 9 000 tonnes of lead carbonate on the port at Esperance. The former government did not remove it. We are now negotiating for the packing, insertion into a container and removal of that 9 000 tonnes. It will fill something like 300 container loads. Members opposite did not do that. They did a partial clean-up of parts of the town and some affected properties. They did not do a full and proper clean-up. That needs to be attended to. The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members will remember the debate when members now on the government side argued for a parliamentary committee to investigate the situation, and members opposite, including the member interjecting, disowned the issue; they argued against a committee being established. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : We agreed to it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They were forced to have an inquiry. Eventually, the committee chaired by the now Deputy Premier did an excellent job. Let us deal with the issue now. The previous government promised to do something about the immediate problem of the safety of drinking water, bearing in mind many people use rainwater tanks. Reverse osmosis filters were promised back in February. It was not done. They are being delivered to people in need in Esperance this week. There are still 9 000 tonnes of lead carbonate on the port at Esperance. The former government did not remove it. We are now negotiating for the packing, insertion into a container and removal of that 9 000 tonnes. It will fill something like 300 container loads. Members opposite did not do that. They did a partial clean-up of parts of the town and some affected properties. They did not do a full and proper clean-up. That needs to be attended to. The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : We agreed to it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They were forced to have an inquiry. Eventually, the committee chaired by the now Deputy Premier did an excellent job. Let us deal with the issue now. The previous government promised to do something about the immediate problem of the safety of drinking water, bearing in mind many people use rainwater tanks. Reverse osmosis filters were promised back in February. It was not done. They are being delivered to people in need in Esperance this week. There are still 9 000 tonnes of lead carbonate on the port at Esperance. The former government did not remove it. We are now negotiating for the packing, insertion into a container and removal of that 9 000 tonnes. It will fill something like 300 container loads. Members opposite did not do that. They did a partial clean-up of parts of the town and some affected properties. They did not do a full and proper clean-up. That needs to be attended to. The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : They were forced to have an inquiry. Eventually, the committee chaired by the now Deputy Premier did an excellent job. Let us deal with the issue now. The previous government promised to do something about the immediate problem of the safety of drinking water, bearing in mind many people use rainwater tanks. Reverse osmosis filters were promised back in February. It was not done. They are being delivered to people in need in Esperance this week. There are still 9 000 tonnes of lead carbonate on the port at Esperance. The former government did not remove it. We are now negotiating for the packing, insertion into a container and removal of that 9 000 tonnes. It will fill something like 300 container loads. Members opposite did not do that. They did a partial clean-up of parts of the town and some affected properties. They did not do a full and proper clean-up. That needs to be attended to. The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for the question and I congratulate him on his election to Deputy Speaker. After Wittenoom, the contamination in Esperance is probably the most severe environmental pollution issue this state may have faced given its potential effect on public health. In my view, it was not well handled by the previous government. Indeed, the previous government was in denial about the whole issue. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That’s just nonsense. We acknowledged it immediately and we cancelled lead shipments the day it was announced. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members will remember the debate when members now on the government side argued for a parliamentary committee to investigate the situation, and members opposite, including the member interjecting, disowned the issue; they argued against a committee being established. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : We agreed to it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They were forced to have an inquiry. Eventually, the committee chaired by the now Deputy Premier did an excellent job. Let us deal with the issue now. The previous government promised to do something about the immediate problem of the safety of drinking water, bearing in mind many people use rainwater tanks. Reverse osmosis filters were promised back in February. It was not done. They are being delivered to people in need in Esperance this week. There are still 9 000 tonnes of lead carbonate on the port at Esperance. The former government did not remove it. We are now negotiating for the packing, insertion into a container and removal of that 9 000 tonnes. It will fill something like 300 container loads. Members opposite did not do that. They did a partial clean-up of parts of the town and some affected properties. They did not do a full and proper clean-up. That needs to be attended to. The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
I thank the member for the question and I congratulate him on his election to Deputy Speaker. After Wittenoom, the contamination in Esperance is probably the most severe environmental pollution issue this state may have faced given its potential effect on public health. In my view, it was not well handled by the previous government. Indeed, the previous government was in denial about the whole issue. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That’s just nonsense. We acknowledged it immediately and we cancelled lead shipments the day it was announced. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members will remember the debate when members now on the government side argued for a parliamentary committee to investigate the situation, and members opposite, including the member interjecting, disowned the issue; they argued against a committee being established. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : We agreed to it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They were forced to have an inquiry. Eventually, the committee chaired by the now Deputy Premier did an excellent job. Let us deal with the issue now. The previous government promised to do something about the immediate problem of the safety of drinking water, bearing in mind many people use rainwater tanks. Reverse osmosis filters were promised back in February. It was not done. They are being delivered to people in need in Esperance this week. There are still 9 000 tonnes of lead carbonate on the port at Esperance. The former government did not remove it. We are now negotiating for the packing, insertion into a container and removal of that 9 000 tonnes. It will fill something like 300 container loads. Members opposite did not do that. They did a partial clean-up of parts of the town and some affected properties. They did not do a full and proper clean-up. That needs to be attended to. The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
After Wittenoom, the contamination in Esperance is probably the most severe environmental pollution issue this state may have faced given its potential effect on public health. In my view, it was not well handled by the previous government. Indeed, the previous government was in denial about the whole issue. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That’s just nonsense. We acknowledged it immediately and we cancelled lead shipments the day it was announced. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members will remember the debate when members now on the government side argued for a parliamentary committee to investigate the situation, and members opposite, including the member interjecting, disowned the issue; they argued against a committee being established. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : We agreed to it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They were forced to have an inquiry. Eventually, the committee chaired by the now Deputy Premier did an excellent job. Let us deal with the issue now. The previous government promised to do something about the immediate problem of the safety of drinking water, bearing in mind many people use rainwater tanks. Reverse osmosis filters were promised back in February. It was not done. They are being delivered to people in need in Esperance this week. There are still 9 000 tonnes of lead carbonate on the port at Esperance. The former government did not remove it. We are now negotiating for the packing, insertion into a container and removal of that 9 000 tonnes. It will fill something like 300 container loads. Members opposite did not do that. They did a partial clean-up of parts of the town and some affected properties. They did not do a full and proper clean-up. That needs to be attended to. The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That’s just nonsense. We acknowledged it immediately and we cancelled lead shipments the day it was announced. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members will remember the debate when members now on the government side argued for a parliamentary committee to investigate the situation, and members opposite, including the member interjecting, disowned the issue; they argued against a committee being established. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : We agreed to it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They were forced to have an inquiry. Eventually, the committee chaired by the now Deputy Premier did an excellent job. Let us deal with the issue now. The previous government promised to do something about the immediate problem of the safety of drinking water, bearing in mind many people use rainwater tanks. Reverse osmosis filters were promised back in February. It was not done. They are being delivered to people in need in Esperance this week. There are still 9 000 tonnes of lead carbonate on the port at Esperance. The former government did not remove it. We are now negotiating for the packing, insertion into a container and removal of that 9 000 tonnes. It will fill something like 300 container loads. Members opposite did not do that. They did a partial clean-up of parts of the town and some affected properties. They did not do a full and proper clean-up. That needs to be attended to. The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members will remember the debate when members now on the government side argued for a parliamentary committee to investigate the situation, and members opposite, including the member interjecting, disowned the issue; they argued against a committee being established. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : We agreed to it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They were forced to have an inquiry. Eventually, the committee chaired by the now Deputy Premier did an excellent job. Let us deal with the issue now. The previous government promised to do something about the immediate problem of the safety of drinking water, bearing in mind many people use rainwater tanks. Reverse osmosis filters were promised back in February. It was not done. They are being delivered to people in need in Esperance this week. There are still 9 000 tonnes of lead carbonate on the port at Esperance. The former government did not remove it. We are now negotiating for the packing, insertion into a container and removal of that 9 000 tonnes. It will fill something like 300 container loads. Members opposite did not do that. They did a partial clean-up of parts of the town and some affected properties. They did not do a full and proper clean-up. That needs to be attended to. The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : We agreed to it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They were forced to have an inquiry. Eventually, the committee chaired by the now Deputy Premier did an excellent job. Let us deal with the issue now. The previous government promised to do something about the immediate problem of the safety of drinking water, bearing in mind many people use rainwater tanks. Reverse osmosis filters were promised back in February. It was not done. They are being delivered to people in need in Esperance this week. There are still 9 000 tonnes of lead carbonate on the port at Esperance. The former government did not remove it. We are now negotiating for the packing, insertion into a container and removal of that 9 000 tonnes. It will fill something like 300 container loads. Members opposite did not do that. They did a partial clean-up of parts of the town and some affected properties. They did not do a full and proper clean-up. That needs to be attended to. The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : They were forced to have an inquiry. Eventually, the committee chaired by the now Deputy Premier did an excellent job. Let us deal with the issue now. The previous government promised to do something about the immediate problem of the safety of drinking water, bearing in mind many people use rainwater tanks. Reverse osmosis filters were promised back in February. It was not done. They are being delivered to people in need in Esperance this week. There are still 9 000 tonnes of lead carbonate on the port at Esperance. The former government did not remove it. We are now negotiating for the packing, insertion into a container and removal of that 9 000 tonnes. It will fill something like 300 container loads. Members opposite did not do that. They did a partial clean-up of parts of the town and some affected properties. They did not do a full and proper clean-up. That needs to be attended to. The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
The issue of further mineral export, particularly nickel, has been raised. If that is to take place, improvements must be made to the equipment in the immediate term and, perhaps in the longer term, to the port. This is a serious issue. It was an issue that the Labor government resisted. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : That is absolutely untrue. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : You seem to be a little uptight. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is the way the previous Labor government and the minister tackled the issue. I have a letter written in response to inquiries from legitimately concerned residents of Esperance about the health of their children. Lead accumulates in infantile bodies. I will read the response from the former minister’s office — A recent study has shown that lead in rainwater tanks can come from a number of sources, and an isotope test of water from Esperance tanks will determine clearly if the source is Magellan lead or not. You would agree that the Esperance Port should not be responsible for cleaning rainwater tanks or providing a reverse osmosis unit if the lead in the rainwater tanks is from sources other than Magellan. Where in the hell else is it going to come from? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Where else was the lead contamination coming from, if not from Magellan and the handling of lead through the port of Esperance? What did members opposite think was going on? Did they think that birds flew up to the mine site, played in the mud for a while and then flew back, only to drop out of the sky? What did members opposite thing was going on? When they were in government they resisted and they failed to act. Let me assure members opposite that the Liberal-National government will act on this issue—as it will on so many issues. I thank the local member and Minister for Water, the Minister for Transport, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Hon Wendy Duncan—we all went to Esperance on Monday. We met with the community and we made a commitment to deal with this issue, and I hope to be able to make an announcement about that shortly. We will bring to a conclusion this sad incident that has affected the health of and is still a blight on the psyche of the Esperance community.
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