Mt Isa lead poisoning: lessons for NSW government

"The experience in Mt Isa should ring warning bells for the NSW government which for too long has placed the interests of the coal mining industry before its responsibility to protect the health of people living in the Hunter," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The bottom line is that unless the Iemma government takes the health impacts of coal mining seriously they may well face liability in decades to come.

"Premier Iemma needs to respond to community calls for an inquiry into coal mining and health.

"Coal mining in the Hunter is leaving its stain in the form of water, air and noise pollution, risking respiratory diseases, cancer and other health problems.

"The Environmental Protection Authority and NSW Health have been impotent in responding to resident complaints or imposing conditions on mining giants.

"Greens research conducted in 2007 showed the Upper Hunter coal mines are not complying with pollution licences and the EPA is failing to follow through with prosecutions.

"Repeated calls from the community and the Greens for an additional EPA office in the Upper Hunter to help ensure proper monitoring and reporting have been ignored.

"Coal dust from blasting, diesel exhaust and raised levels of arsenic, chromium and cadmium are just some of the polluting elements that should be of concern to NSW Health.

"Coal communities currently have to rely on mining companies to conduct monitoring and report their environmental performance.

"The hidden dangers of mining lurk in water and the air. Fine and ultrafine particles are particularly dangerous and are being dubbed the new asbestos.

"NSW's existing air quality standards are not suitable to assess the impact of these particles on human health.

"The role of the NSW government should be to protect and support residents where their health has been impacted by coal mining, not ignore them," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

[via Lee Rhiannon MLC Media Release Friday 23 May 2008 link]