❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Department of Mines and Petroleum's handling of asbestos occurrence data in WA mines since 1991, and the confidentiality of related information. The Minister denies maintaining a confidential list and explains the regulatory requirements for managing asbestos risks.
AnsweredQoN 2324Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Mines Department report, ‘Summary of Asbestos Occurrence in W.A. Mines’, and the attached internal memorandum entitled, ‘Asbestos Management’ from the Principal Scientific Officer, Mr. GS Hewson to senior Department officers’, written on 9 October 1991, located at
http://robinchapple.org.au/node/460
[1991-10-09 G. S. Hewson GHULT325.pdf], and ask -
(1) Does the Department of Mines and Petroleum still maintain a confidential list of asbestos occurrence in Western Australian mine sites?
(2) If yes to (1), will the Minister table all such documents published between 1991 to the present?
(3) If no list has been maintained since 1991, why is this so?
(4) Why was it considered important in the 1991 memorandum that this important potential health impact material be kept confidential?
(5) With respect to (2), if a list has been maintained since 1991, and the Minister will not release them, is it because the material is still considered confidential?
(6) If yes to (5), why?
http://robinchapple.org.au/node/460
[1991-10-09 G. S. Hewson GHULT325.pdf], and ask -
(1) Does the Department of Mines and Petroleum still maintain a confidential list of asbestos occurrence in Western Australian mine sites?
(2) If yes to (1), will the Minister table all such documents published between 1991 to the present?
(3) If no list has been maintained since 1991, why is this so?
(4) Why was it considered important in the 1991 memorandum that this important potential health impact material be kept confidential?
(5) With respect to (2), if a list has been maintained since 1991, and the Minister will not release them, is it because the material is still considered confidential?
(6) If yes to (5), why?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 June 2010
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
42 days
1. I am advised by the Department of Mines and Petroleum that it did not keep, and still does not keep, a confidential list of asbestos occurrences in Western Australia.
2. Not applicable.
3. Under Regulation 9.33 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations the manager of a mine must advise the district inspector of the occurrence of contaminant asbestos at a mine.
This information is not confidential because the same regulation requires the manager to take such action as is necessary to protect the health of employees at the mine from the effects of the asbestos.
4. I am advised that the health impact material was not confidential and that employees at the mine sites would have been notified of the potential occurrence of asbestos and provided with the results of their air sampling.
The Department advises this was an internal memorandum. The summary was incomplete and external release of incomplete information could have been misinterpreted.
The information sought in the memorandum would have been used in the Departmental publication "Asbestos Management in Mining" published in 1992. The publication includes a map which showed all the regions for potential asbestiform occurrences in Western Australia.
5-6 Not applicable.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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2. Not applicable.
3. Under Regulation 9.33 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations the manager of a mine must advise the district inspector of the occurrence of contaminant asbestos at a mine.
This information is not confidential because the same regulation requires the manager to take such action as is necessary to protect the health of employees at the mine from the effects of the asbestos.
4. I am advised that the health impact material was not confidential and that employees at the mine sites would have been notified of the potential occurrence of asbestos and provided with the results of their air sampling.
The Department advises this was an internal memorandum. The summary was incomplete and external release of incomplete information could have been misinterpreted.
The information sought in the memorandum would have been used in the Departmental publication "Asbestos Management in Mining" published in 1992. The publication includes a map which showed all the regions for potential asbestiform occurrences in Western Australia.
5-6 Not applicable.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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