Motions

PFAS Disposal

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Minister for Environment and Water) (16:26): I move:

That this house requests that the Environment, Resources and Development Committee investigate and report on the appropriate and safe disposal of PFAS contaminated waste in South Australia, and in particular—

(a) criteria for disposal of PFAS contaminated waste;

(b) criteria for site selection (landfill engineering);

(c) consequences of not having an appropriate pathway for PFAS contaminated waste disposal, including reference to case studies; and

(d) any other related matters.

As many members of this house and the South Australian community would be more than aware, PFAS is a group of synthetic chemicals that have been extensively used in consumer and industrial projects since around the 1950s. They were used to manufacture non-stick coatings and products that require resistance to fire heat, water stain and weather and in some types of firefighting foam.

This means that the areas that are contaminated by PFAS are often those associated with former or current firefighting stations, both Metropolitan Fire Service stations and Country Fire Service stations and their associated training sites, as well as areas occupied formerly and presently by the Australian Defence Force and its associated entities as well.

There are currently no landfills in South Australia licensed to dispose of PFAS-contaminated waste, and recently the South Australian board of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) asked the Environment Protection Authority to progress and plan for the broader policy considerations and operational management of PFAS waste in South Australia.

Notwithstanding the ongoing necessary and important work of the EPA, the matter of how South Australia is to appropriately and safely dispose of PFAS-contaminated waste remains of significant interest. As such, I propose that this is a matter that should be analysed by a standing committee of the parliament of South Australia.

I believe that a standing committee will take an evidenced-based and balanced approach to our state's requirement to deal with PFAS. As a state we cannot put our head in the sand. We cannot ignore the existence of PFAS. We will need some sort of pathway, whether that pathway be in-state or interstate disposal, but this parliament needs to have that consideration, needs to work through the issue and needs to do so with evidence and science at the heart of consideration.

To achieve this, I seek the support of members from this place to agree to this motion, which refers the matter to the Environment, Resources and Development Committee of this place.

Debate adjourned on motion of Dr Harvey.