Greens Water spokesperson Tim Morris MP said despite being told over six months ago that the new draft regulations were about to be released for public consultation, they have failed to materialise, and raised concerns that Minister Green is following former Minister Llewellyn’s example of doing nothing.
Mr Morris also pointed out that the latest round of testing was only undertaken on 24 rivers, or just under half of the previous sites as the other sites have not returned a contamination event in the six or so years of regular testing. This change was supported on the basis that resources would be reallocated to begin testing on some other rivers and streams identified as at potential risk of agricultural contamination but it is now revealed that this has not happened.
“With the latest round of testing revealing that MCPA has contaminated four rivers across the north of the state it can be assumed that the failure of Minister Green to release the new regulations or even explain why he has not done so, suggests that he is happy to facilitate the ongoing contamination by inaction,” Mr Morris said.
“Doing nothing equates allowing the poisoning of our rivers and water supplies to continue unchecked.”
“The claim that the testing revealed levels just above the limit of detection is deliberately misleading, as it is well known that a test at a single point in time can never provide the maximum level of contamination.”
“As usual the community can expect that the source of the contamination for any of theses events will not be identified, and nor will those responsible have to face any action.”
“Until there are clear regulations in place, sprayers will continue to be careless about whether they contaminate our waterways because there are no enforceable sanctions or repercussions in place.”
“The Greens have long called for Chemical Trespass Legislation, which we have tabled in the Parliament once again this year, to make sprayers of herbicides and pesticides accountable and responsible for any chemical contamination identified on non-designated target areas.”
“Minister Green keeps promising to deliver spray regulations but we are yet to see any action while contamination keeps being detected in their absence. Not good enough, Minister, Tasmanians deserve chemical free waterways,” Mr Morris said.
