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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-02-24 Daily Xml
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Question Time

EDWARDSTOWN GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:27): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Consumer Affairs a question about toxic groundwater.

Leave granted.

The Hon. P. Holloway interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I am asking the minister a question, not you. You had your turn for nine years, and now it's time to sit back and take your medicine.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Can I have the clock restarted after this carry-on? As the minister might know, after an 18-month long cover-up the government has finally revealed that about 2,000 homes in and around Edwardstown are sitting over a pool of contaminated groundwater; water so toxic that you cannot let a dog drink it, you cannot let children play on lawns watered with the stuff, and you cannot use the bore water for growing vegetables. The water contains known and suspected cancer-causing chemicals.

Australian Property Monitors says that 442 properties were sold in the 5039 postcode which, for the benefit of the minister, is Edwardstown. Real estate agents are compelled to inform prospective buyers if the property is known to have any issues which may affect the sale price. The Environment Protection Authority has known about this toxic groundwater for at least a year and a half. My questions are:

1. What recompense do consumers have if they have bought a property in Edwardstown which sits over the contaminated water?

2. Can buyers who acquired a property in the past 12 months to two years seek compensation from the Environment Protection Authority for keeping this vital commercial information secret?

3. Can the minister guarantee that real estate agents who signed a Form 1—the statement by the vendor of all disclosures they need to make when they are selling a property, under the Land and Business (Sale and Conveyancing) Act 1994—that did not mention the groundwater will be protected from prosecution or liability?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises) (14:29): I thank the honourable member for his questions and indeed—

An honourable member: Scaremongering.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Yes, his scaremongering questions—up to mischief as usual.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: My understanding is that monitoring is still taking place and advice is still being sought in relation to this problem and the extent of this problem. I will certainly await the outcome of that advice, and I am happy to take the questions on notice and bring back a response once I have the appropriate information.

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