Mr. Kelly questions the Minister for Water regarding asbestos exposure at Minnivale Reservoir, requesting the release of a report and reinstatement of safety officers. The Minister defends the handling of the situation and accuses Mr. Kelly of causing trauma by publicizing the incident.

AnsweredQoN 922Legislative Assembly
Asked
10 November 2015
Portfolio
Water

QuestionView source ↗

WATER
CORPORATION — MINNIVALE RESERVOIR — ASBESTOS
922. Mr D.J. KELLY to the
Minister for Water:
I ask a supplementary question. One of the workers said to me
that being told that they had been exposed to asbestos was like getting a death
sentence. To show that the minister is taking —
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr D.J. KELLY :
That is what one of the workers said to me, minister.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Bassendean, I want a succinct question and I do not want any
interjections.
Mr D.J. KELLY :
Will the minister show that she is taking this issue seriously by, firstly,
releasing the ICAM—Incident Cause Analysis Method—report, which
I understand has largely been completed; and, secondly, showing the staff good
faith by reinstating the six occupational health and safety workers who have
been cut from their unit in the last six months?

AnswerView source ↗

I do take this absolutely seriously, as does the Water
Corporation. No, member, I am not going to pre-empt the completion of a report.
We are working with WorkSafe. It is the appropriate body to be working with. In
due course, that information will become known. But at this point it is still
conducting an investigation and I will not be pre-empting that investigation.
Just while we are at it, there were people who found out
about this incident through the media and that is on the member's head.
Those people are significantly more traumatised than the ones who found out
through the Water Corporation. The member should take that smile off his face.
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Bassendean, I call you to order now for the second time.
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Bassendean, do you want me to call you a third time?

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