Taskforce Condemns Secrecy on Rosebery Meeting

A member of the Rosebery community yesterday was refused admission to the full meeting held by the Rosebery Community Reference Group after being invited to attend by Dr Chrissie Pickin.

Kay Seltitzas, spokesperson for the Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania today said
“We are shocked that one of the poisoned Rosebery residents was invited to attend this meeting but was only allowed to attend for half an hour to have her questions answered and then asked to leave due to “confidentiality” issues.

The Rosebery Community Reference Group have repeatedly stated publicly that there will be no breaches of privacy in relation to environmental or biological monitoring data and therefore our Taskforce do not consider there is any need for confidentiality in these meetings.

The THMTT are appalled at the treatment of the resident by the Rosebery Community Reference Group and consider that this denial of participation vindicates the Taskforce position not to particpate in ‘secret’ meetings from the outset. The Taskforce also refused to sign a confidentiality agreement when invited to participate in the Technical Advisory Group.

Contrary to Mayor Gerrity’s claims that the conduct of the Rosebery Community Reference Group has been “honourable” we consider that the Rosebery community deserve greater transparency” said Ms Seltitzas.

The correspondence between the DHHS and residents is set out below:

Invitation from Dr Chrissie Pickin by email on 17th May 2010…….

Dear Kay, ……… and Marsha,
The second meeting of the Rosebery Community Reference Group to be
chaired by Mayor Gerrity will take place this Wednesday at 1.30pm. I attach
the proposed agenda. Could you please make this information known to the
Toxic Heavy Metals Task Force. If you, or any other member of the group
wishes to attend or to send a statement could you please request this of
Mayor Gerrity asap.
Kind regards
Chrissie

The reply from an invited Rosebery ……..resident….

Following the invitation to me from Dr Chrissie Pickin I wish to confirm
that I will be attending the Rosebery Community Reference Group meeting
at 1.30pm on Wednesday 19th May.

As you will be aware I am not a member of the Tasmanian Toxic Heavy
Metals Taskforce but I have been diagnosed by Dr Andreas Ernst with heavy metal
poisoning and my property is highly contaminated with heavy metals.

All views need to be considered at the Rosebery Community Reference
Group meeting if it is to be balanced and inclusive. Having been severely
affected personally by heavy metal poisoning, I have considerable
experience with the problems of heavy metals in the Rosebery environment
and wish to contribute to the meeting.

The reply from Chrissie Pickin……….

………… will be very welcome. We look forward to discussing the issues
with her
Best wishes
Chrissie
Kay Seltitzas Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania