This is a perversion (2)

Nick McKim, Press Release

“This is a complete abrogation of the government’s responsibility to ensure proper regulation of an industry which has been responsible for the direct spraying of water courses and communities water supplies in the past.”

MEDIA RELEASE

Nick McKim MHA

Wednesday, 12 JULY 2006

Aerial Spraying Code of Practice Review Recommendations are Manifestly Inadequate

As Llewellyn Flags Intention to Proceed with Zero Buffer Zones Around Organic Agriculture, 10m Around Water Bodies and No Pre-spraying Notification

The Tasmanian Greens today said that recommendations by the Agricultural, Silvicultural and Veterinary Chemicals Council (ASCHEM) regarding a new regime to regulate aerial spraying in Tasmania are woefully inadequate and must be strengthened by Minister Llewellyn.

Greens Shadow Environment spokesperson Nick McKim MHA said that the recommendations included a miniscule 10 metre buffer zone around water bodies, including aquaculture tanks, no buffer zone at all around organic agriculture properties, and no requirement to notify the government that aerial spraying is taking place.

“Ten metre buffer zones around rivers from which drinking water is obtained will do nothing to ensure drinking water quality in regional Tasmanian towns, and the lack of buffer zones around organic agriculture enterprises is an extraordinary omission,” Mr McKim said.

“This is a complete abrogation of the government’s responsibility to ensure proper regulation of an industry which has been responsible for the direct spraying of water courses and communities water supplies in the past.”

“The ASCHEM recommendations will do nothing to improve drinking water quality, and nothing to provide security for the aquaculture and organic agriculture sectors.”

“This is a woefully inadequate response to concerns widely held about drinking water quality, particularly given that this regime is supposed to regulate the aerial spraying of potentially carcinogenic compounds such as Atrazine and Simazine which are banned in many other jurisdictions such as the European Union.”

“How can compliance be enforced if, as ASCHEM has recommended, the government does not even know that aerial spraying is taking place?”

“Mr Llewellyn must get a grip on this process and legislate to at least ensure adequate buffer zones and on-the-ground compliance.”

Mr McKim recalled the events of 2004, when the Carpenters were directly sprayed with Atrazine, and not only did the government officer responding to the complaint show up in a Gunns Ltd vehicle, but the only sanction was a ‘slap on the wrists’ letter from the then Minister Steve Kons.

Earlier: This is a perversion