Rosebery: Inquiry sought

MARSHA STEJSKAL, Poisoned Rosebery Residents Group, Media release 2 pm Sunday 5th July

Rosebery residents met in Hobart today, and have decided to seek an Ombudsman’s Inquiry into matters relating to the joint Department of Health Human Services and Environmental Protection Authorities’ investigation into our concerns about heavy metal poisoning in Rosebery.

Further we will be making a request to the Director of Health Dr Roscoe Taylor to quash the findings in the Final Report on these matters on two grounds;

* Failure to establish results from medical examinations of residents

* Failure to conduct any Geo hydrological testing.

Earlier on Tasmanian Times: My fight with the Department of Health and Human Services

Greens:

ROSEBERY TOXICS FEARS WARRANT FURTHER EXAMINATION
Cassy O’Connor MP
Greens Health spokesperson
Sunday, 5 July 2009

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today said the persistent fears of a group of Rosebery residents that they are being poisoned as a result of heavy metals in their immediate environment require further independent examination to determine whether anything has been missed by government efforts to date.

Greens Health and Environment spokesperson, Cassy O’Connor MP, said the level of concern is so deep and persistent among residents who held today’s Toxics Rally on Parliament House lawns that they must be taken seriously.

“When this issue first came to public attention late last year, and on the basis of preliminary pathology tests showing some elevated arsenic, lead and manganese levels as well as vision of a mysterious surface water bubbling in Murchison St, the Greens called on the Bartlett Government to establish a Taskforce to undertake health analysis of affected residents and environmental testing of their surroundings, which to its credit the government promptly did,” Ms O’Connor said.

“Yet, the toxicology report commissioned by the Taskforce and undertaken by respected, independent toxicologist, Professor Brian Priestly, has not assuaged the deeply held concerns of locals who believe there are key gaps in the Taskforce’s approach, including in the information provided to Professor Priestly.”

“In the first instance, as Ministers responsible for the joint Taskforce, Health Minister Lara Giddings and Environment Minister Michelle O’Byrne need to engage directly with concerned residents to hear first hand why they are not satisfied with the answers they have received to date.”

“The Greens would also welcome the direct involvement of an independent organisation with the relevant expertise, such as the National Toxics Network, to visit Rosebery, go over the existing information to identify any deficiencies and work collaboratively with residents and authorities to propose a path forward.”

“We have had some preliminary discussions about the Rosebery situation with NTN Director Lee Bell and will this week work to progress the NTN’s involvement and advice on behalf of a very worried group of residents,” Ms O’Connor said.