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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-09-09 Daily Xml
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Question Time

Port Pirie, Blood Lead Levels

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (14:39): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Health on the topic of Port Pirie's lead smelter.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: The latest SA Health report into Port Pirie lead levels, released on 30 August, shows that in the first half of this year the average blood levels of Port Pirie children under five was 5.7 micrograms. For children tested on their second birthday, it was 7.8 micrograms, the highest reading in a decade. Experts have issued parents with a range of warnings, including to ensure their air conditioners are cleaned, their windows and doors are properly sealed, children's toys and clothes are cleaned daily, clothes are not dried outside, and prams are not pushed into the wind.

My question to the Minister for Health is: given the risks associated with high lead levels, what is the government doing to ensure emissions from the smelter are lowered to limit the adverse outcomes to children, including respiratory illness and socio-behavioural problems?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:41): With all due respect to the honourable member, I am not the minister responsible for the EPA. The reduction strategies within the smelter are coordinated by him. I will say that this government is a government that is very determined to make sure we improve the governance of the Port Pirie blood lead levels program, particularly through the Targeted Lead Abatement Program.

Recently an independent review was undertaken, seeing that the leadership of that initiative has been strengthened. The lead minister is the Hon. Dan van Holst Pellekaan, Minister for Energy and Mining, in partnership with myself and Minister Speirs. The recent deterioration is concerning, and certainly the work being done with the smelter to reduce emissions is a key part of the long-term strategy.

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