Port Pirie, Blood Lead Levels

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:40): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development on the topic of lead poisoning in Port Pirie.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: On 13 March this year, an article in The Guardian, entitled 'Dead and dying Port Pirie birds and bats exposed to lead at 3,000 times acceptable levels', revealed that the South Australian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) did not open a formal investigation into the source of the lead poisoning despite a referral from your department, that being the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, SA.

Furthermore, it was revealed that neither the EPA nor PIRSA had communicated the details to the Port Pirie Regional Council despite residents reporting dozens of sick or dying bats and birds. South Australian Health declined opportunities to answer specific questions about parents' health concerns and whether more could be done to minimise lead contamination.

Details of necropsies obtained under FOI revealed that the presence of lead at more than 3,000 times acceptable levels meant that it was not just an animal welfare issue for native wildlife but potentially also for pets, livestock and domestic animals and, of course, Port Pirie residents, especially children, who are most susceptible to the permanently damaging effects of lead exposure.

The National Health and Medical Research Council acknowledge levels above 10 micrograms of lead per decilitre of blood could harm body functions and organs in both adults and children and recommend any blood lead level greater than five micrograms per decilitre should be investigated and reduced. However, the World Health Organization guidelines state that there is no safe level. The latest SA Health report found 66.3 per cent of children tested in Port Pirie returned a blood lead level above that threshold. My questions to the minister, therefore, are:

1 Is the minister concerned that the EPA and South Australian Health have chosen not to pursue this matter further, given her department believes there was something worth investigating?

2. Given this, is the minister confident that the current powers held by PIRSA are sufficient to protect animals, wildlife and residents in our regions?

3. Can the Malinauskas government now assure the public there is no risk currently to animals, wildlife and residents in Port Pirie, given this reported level of lead exposure?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:42): I thank the honourable member for her question. My advice is that a specific lead point source was acknowledged as being extremely difficult to locate and identify. Without being able to identify a source of specific lead that may have contributed to this, I am advised that there was no further action taken.