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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-23 Daily Xml
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ENERGY-SAVING LIGHT GLOBES

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:08): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation a question regarding long-life light bulbs.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: For a number of years now South Australians—indeed, those in other states as well—have been required by law to use so-called energy-saving globes in their houses. However, with respect to these products complaints range from the poor life of the globes themselves to the fact that they can transmit a very poor light in some cases, and certainly with respect to the increased cost for purchases. Many of these complaints have been raised directly with me through constituents.

In more recent times very serious questions have been raised regarding the safety of these globes, particularly in regard to the dangerous health consequences that can result from their use, especially when they break. A major component of the globe is mercury, of course, which has been known to be corrosive and which can cause very serious respiratory problems as well as severe skin irritations.

A recent article in the Adelaide Advertiser newspaper reported that workers who come in contact with the globe in their jobs have been given OH&S safety briefings on the handling and disposing of broken globes, as the mercury in the globes is more toxic than lead or arsenic. In spite of all of this, starting from 1 September 2012, energy saving light globes will be banned in metro landfill and subsequently banned in outer metro landfill from 1 September 2013. My questions therefore are:

1. What is the government's position on the health risk associated with these globes?

2. In light of the health risks, what method does the government advise should be implemented to clean a breakage, and how should they be disposed of, particularly the broken glass of the globe and its contents?

3. Would the government consider allowing South Australians the choice to return to the use of incandescent globes if they so choose?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:11): I thank the honourable member for his question to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation in another place. I undertake to take that question to him and seek a response on his behalf.

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