❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses concerns about Alcoa workers' exposure to clastogenic chemicals, chromosome testing, and disability settlements. The Minister's response indicates a lack of awareness and deferred action.
AnsweredQoN 1097Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the minister aware of the results of chromosome tests on seven Alcoa workers undertaken by Dr Judith Ford in which Dr Ford concluded that the workers had suffered considerable exposure to toxic and clastogenic - chromosome breaking - chemicals? (2) Given that the findings indicate all seven workers had been exposed to one or more highly clastogenic agents, will the minister advise why only five workers received total and permanent disability settlements? (3) What criteria were used to determine that the two Alcoa workers from Kwinana should be treated differently? (4) Given that recommendation No 8 of the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs report on the Alcoa refinery at Wagerup - which was tabled on 28 October 2004 - specifically mentions the use of chromosome testing, will the minister advise whether the tests will be applied more widely to workers with cancer and those with other conditions? (5) If not, why not? Hon SUE ELLERY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. In view of the question, the minister sought advice from the Department of Health, which advised of concerns within the medical community regarding the conclusions drawn from the test results. (2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(2) Given that the findings indicate all seven workers had been exposed to one or more highly clastogenic agents, will the minister advise why only five workers received total and permanent disability settlements? (3) What criteria were used to determine that the two Alcoa workers from Kwinana should be treated differently? (4) Given that recommendation No 8 of the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs report on the Alcoa refinery at Wagerup - which was tabled on 28 October 2004 - specifically mentions the use of chromosome testing, will the minister advise whether the tests will be applied more widely to workers with cancer and those with other conditions? (5) If not, why not? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. In view of the question, the minister sought advice from the Department of Health, which advised of concerns within the medical community regarding the conclusions drawn from the test results. (2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(3) What criteria were used to determine that the two Alcoa workers from Kwinana should be treated differently? (4) Given that recommendation No 8 of the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs report on the Alcoa refinery at Wagerup - which was tabled on 28 October 2004 - specifically mentions the use of chromosome testing, will the minister advise whether the tests will be applied more widely to workers with cancer and those with other conditions? (5) If not, why not? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. In view of the question, the minister sought advice from the Department of Health, which advised of concerns within the medical community regarding the conclusions drawn from the test results. (2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(4) Given that recommendation No 8 of the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs report on the Alcoa refinery at Wagerup - which was tabled on 28 October 2004 - specifically mentions the use of chromosome testing, will the minister advise whether the tests will be applied more widely to workers with cancer and those with other conditions? (5) If not, why not? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. In view of the question, the minister sought advice from the Department of Health, which advised of concerns within the medical community regarding the conclusions drawn from the test results. (2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(5) If not, why not? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. In view of the question, the minister sought advice from the Department of Health, which advised of concerns within the medical community regarding the conclusions drawn from the test results. (2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. In view of the question, the minister sought advice from the Department of Health, which advised of concerns within the medical community regarding the conclusions drawn from the test results. (2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. In view of the question, the minister sought advice from the Department of Health, which advised of concerns within the medical community regarding the conclusions drawn from the test results. (2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(1) No. In view of the question, the minister sought advice from the Department of Health, which advised of concerns within the medical community regarding the conclusions drawn from the test results. (2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(5) See answer to (4).
(2) Given that the findings indicate all seven workers had been exposed to one or more highly clastogenic agents, will the minister advise why only five workers received total and permanent disability settlements? (3) What criteria were used to determine that the two Alcoa workers from Kwinana should be treated differently? (4) Given that recommendation No 8 of the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs report on the Alcoa refinery at Wagerup - which was tabled on 28 October 2004 - specifically mentions the use of chromosome testing, will the minister advise whether the tests will be applied more widely to workers with cancer and those with other conditions? (5) If not, why not? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. In view of the question, the minister sought advice from the Department of Health, which advised of concerns within the medical community regarding the conclusions drawn from the test results. (2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(3) What criteria were used to determine that the two Alcoa workers from Kwinana should be treated differently? (4) Given that recommendation No 8 of the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs report on the Alcoa refinery at Wagerup - which was tabled on 28 October 2004 - specifically mentions the use of chromosome testing, will the minister advise whether the tests will be applied more widely to workers with cancer and those with other conditions? (5) If not, why not? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. In view of the question, the minister sought advice from the Department of Health, which advised of concerns within the medical community regarding the conclusions drawn from the test results. (2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(4) Given that recommendation No 8 of the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs report on the Alcoa refinery at Wagerup - which was tabled on 28 October 2004 - specifically mentions the use of chromosome testing, will the minister advise whether the tests will be applied more widely to workers with cancer and those with other conditions? (5) If not, why not? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. In view of the question, the minister sought advice from the Department of Health, which advised of concerns within the medical community regarding the conclusions drawn from the test results. (2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(5) If not, why not? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. In view of the question, the minister sought advice from the Department of Health, which advised of concerns within the medical community regarding the conclusions drawn from the test results. (2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. In view of the question, the minister sought advice from the Department of Health, which advised of concerns within the medical community regarding the conclusions drawn from the test results. (2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. In view of the question, the minister sought advice from the Department of Health, which advised of concerns within the medical community regarding the conclusions drawn from the test results. (2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(1) No. In view of the question, the minister sought advice from the Department of Health, which advised of concerns within the medical community regarding the conclusions drawn from the test results. (2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(2) No. The decisions did not involve the Department of Health. (3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(3) See answer to (2). (4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(4) The Government is considering its response to the report. Chromosome testing may be one of the diagnostic processes reviewed by an environmental health foundation. (5) See answer to (4).
(5) See answer to (4).
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