We should not have to wait

Dr Alison Bleaney
Dear Premier Bartlett,
The Tasmanian Minister for Pesticides, Agriculture , Forestry and Water has informed the Group and other signatories to the letter to Premier Bartlett that we have to wait, wait for:

• A regulatory review of pesticide use including endocrine disrupting chemicals, immunotoxic chemicals, gene function changing chemicals and pre-carcinogenic chemicals that are currently regularly applied.

• A review of pesticide application, including the adverse effects of aerial spraying, with accumulating evidence of off-target deposition of pesticides.

• A review of water catchments and comprehensive planning to ensure the priority of water quality generally, and the provision of safe, clean, non-toxic (pesticide-free) drinking water.

• A review of preventative health measures that include avoidance of environmental toxins especially by pregnant women and children.

The public should not have to wait more than 3 ½ years, and to have to keep waiting while these practices continue unabated.

Some actions can be taken now to deal with these issues and we call on Premier Bartlett to protect those who really cannot advocate for themselves and who demand and deserve strong leadership, the children of Tasmania.

Dr Alison Bleaney OBE

Sec BOD Catchment Risk Group – affiliated to the National Toxic Network