Toxic Dust

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:35): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney-General, in his capacity representing the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Health in another place; and the Minister for Primary Industries, who is representing the Minister for Housing Infrastructure and the Minister for Planning in another place, a question about toxic dust.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: What's that, sorry?

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Toxic dust.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: The Nine Network's national A Current Affair program last night broadcast an excellent, yet disturbing, story on the plight of angry residents at Sellicks Beach, one of our premier beach suburbs, who are living in a constant storm of dangerous dust spewing from the nearby giant local quarry owned and operated by Adbri, or Adelaide Brighton Cement.

The residents commissioned their own testing of fugitive dust samples, revealing high levels of dangerous silica, the sort of stuff the Attorney-General yesterday was backslapping his government for banning in stone cutting, which created the same hazard these people are now exposed to. This toxic dust is falling on their properties and getting inside their homes 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as they explained to me at a packed forum I attended at Sellicks Beach. They are living a nightmare, concerned about their health and that of their families, the environment and the potential financial loss of value to their homes.

There is clear evidence that Adbri is not complying with their operating licence, nor its dust mitigation practices. Of more concern, the EPA, the Department for Energy and Mining, and SA Health have continually ignored the complaints of residents and their calls for help. Lung Foundation Australia chief executive, Mark Brooke, has warned the state government's proposed 1,700 new home development earmarked for the area should not go ahead until there is more thorough testing and controls on the dust fallout. My questions to the ministers are:

1. Will the government support the call to put the proposed new housing development on hold while a thorough independent review of the quarry operations is conducted, rather than rely on the assurances of the operators?

2. Is the government concerned that unless this longstanding health problem is rectified potential buyers will be turned off from buying and building in the new subdivision?

3. Why isn't the government acknowledging and acting on the many complaints?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (14:38): I thank the honourable member for his question. As he stated, there are elements of this that I suspect touch on a number of different portfolio areas. I suspect the most relevant one for the honourable member's questions is through the Deputy Premier and the Environment Protection Authority, the authority that regulates these sorts of matters. I will certainly pass the question on and bring back a reply for the honourable member.