❓ Mr. Johnston questions the Minister for Water regarding an asbestos exposure incident at the Water Corporation. The Minister confirms an investigation is underway and WorkSafe WA will be involved, but criticises the opposition for politicising the issue before all affected individuals were notified.
AnsweredQoN 901Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER
CORPORATION — ASBESTOS — MINNIVALE
901. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the
Minister for Water:
I refer to the serious incident in which Water Corporation
staff and contractors have been exposed to dangerous asbestos.
(1) Will this serious and dangerous incident be independently
investigated; and, if so, by whom?
(2) When did the Water Corporation notify WorkSafe WA of this
serious and dangerous incident?
(3) Why did
the Water Corporation not notify the Western Australian public today about this
serious and dangerous incident, as it told the member for Bassendean yesterday
it would?
CORPORATION — ASBESTOS — MINNIVALE
901. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the
Minister for Water:
I refer to the serious incident in which Water Corporation
staff and contractors have been exposed to dangerous asbestos.
(1) Will this serious and dangerous incident be independently
investigated; and, if so, by whom?
(2) When did the Water Corporation notify WorkSafe WA of this
serious and dangerous incident?
(3) Why did
the Water Corporation not notify the Western Australian public today about this
serious and dangerous incident, as it told the member for Bassendean yesterday
it would?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
I cannot believe that we are having this conversation after I explained to the
house why we were not having the conversation publicly. I do not resile for one
moment from the seriousness of this situation. That is why yesterday I went to
the shadow Minister for Water to advise him of the situation, offered the
briefing in full and said that I would not be making a public statement until
such time as we were confident that everyone who had been exposed was aware.
Today we have a media scrum called by the shadow minister to make a political
point.
Several members interjected.
Point of Order
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : I asked: will there be an independent investigation;
when was Worksafe notified; and the third point, which I understand the
minister is answering. But I would like the first two points answered, which
are as equally important.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you; sit down, please!
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms M.J. DAVIES : Mr
Speaker, it is a serious issue. The Water Corporation is conducting an
investigation and will provide all the information to WorkSafe, as required. We
are currently working through that process. I will not discuss, and I cannot
pre-empt, any of those findings because the investigation is currently
underway. What I did ask for was a little bit of human consideration from the
member opposite not to play this matter out in the media until such time as
everyone had been notified and had time to come to terms with the fact that
they had been put in this situation. I therefore do not resile from the fact
that this is a serious incident.
Several members interjected.
Ms M.J. DAVIES :
The member is laughing. He is sitting over there laughing about people —
The SPEAKER : I
want to tell members now that some people are on three strikes. You are
starting to bellow out, member for Albany. A short answer through the Chair and
let us try to move on.
Ms M.J. DAVIES : Mr
Speaker, I —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, member for Moore, please!
Ms M.J. DAVIES :
The incident is being investigated, WorkSafe will be involved and that
information will be provided to WorkSafe.
I cannot believe that we are having this conversation after I explained to the
house why we were not having the conversation publicly. I do not resile for one
moment from the seriousness of this situation. That is why yesterday I went to
the shadow Minister for Water to advise him of the situation, offered the
briefing in full and said that I would not be making a public statement until
such time as we were confident that everyone who had been exposed was aware.
Today we have a media scrum called by the shadow minister to make a political
point.
Several members interjected.
Point of Order
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : I asked: will there be an independent investigation;
when was Worksafe notified; and the third point, which I understand the
minister is answering. But I would like the first two points answered, which
are as equally important.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you; sit down, please!
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms M.J. DAVIES : Mr
Speaker, it is a serious issue. The Water Corporation is conducting an
investigation and will provide all the information to WorkSafe, as required. We
are currently working through that process. I will not discuss, and I cannot
pre-empt, any of those findings because the investigation is currently
underway. What I did ask for was a little bit of human consideration from the
member opposite not to play this matter out in the media until such time as
everyone had been notified and had time to come to terms with the fact that
they had been put in this situation. I therefore do not resile from the fact
that this is a serious incident.
Several members interjected.
Ms M.J. DAVIES :
The member is laughing. He is sitting over there laughing about people —
The SPEAKER : I
want to tell members now that some people are on three strikes. You are
starting to bellow out, member for Albany. A short answer through the Chair and
let us try to move on.
Ms M.J. DAVIES : Mr
Speaker, I —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, member for Moore, please!
Ms M.J. DAVIES :
The incident is being investigated, WorkSafe will be involved and that
information will be provided to WorkSafe.
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