Tim Morris MP
Greens Water spokesperson
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
The Tasmanian Greens today called for an extension yo be granted to the public comment period on the draft Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Regulations 2011, saying that chemical contamination of the State’s waterways is a genuine matter of serious public importance and the community should be encouraged to contribute.
Greens Water spokesperson Tim Morris MP, who has submitted on behalf of the Tasmanian Greens, said that the State’s regulatory framework must prioritise for the protection of human and environmental health by aiming to eliminate the use of herbicides and pesticides recognised as carcinogens and persistent organic pollutants.
“The Greens welcome the Minister’s release of these draft Agricultural and Veterinary Chemical Regulations for public comment, however given that chemical contamination of our waterways is a matter of serious public importance we urge that the public comment period be extended,” Mr Morris said.
“Many stakeholders and individuals feel very strongly about chemical trespass and the potential impacts it present for the health of their families, and impacts on their businesses, and wish to have a say, yet find it difficult to analyse Regulations in the context of their daily experiences. A little more time would encourage and assist people have their say.”
Recommendations made in the Tasmanian Greens’ Submission include:
1. Aerial spraying is prohibited in water catchments areas that are the source of domestic water intakes and town water supplies; and other key water bodies;
2. Ground based and spraying is prohibited within 10 metres of a water body;
3. All pesticide and or herbicide mixes will contain a dye or other marker to assist with detecting the point of source of any pollution;
4. Minimum and maximum penalties will be increased to reflect the level of risk to property, human and environmental health;
5. Introduce on the spot fines for a first offence at any level of detection;
6. Organic farmers must be notified prior to any spraying operations taking place with an increased maximum penalty if contamination of their property occurs;
7. Maximum penalty increases for body corporate;
8. Prohibit the use of Atrazine and Simazine as a first step, followed by a comprehensive prohibition of the use all other triazines.
“The Greens have a proud track record of advocating for chemical pollutant-free waterways and environment, and we will continue to pursue that goal through avenues such as beefing up the proposed draft Regulations, as well as continue to push for comprehensive Chemical Trespass legislation,” Mr Morris said.
Download: Submission to the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Regulations 2011, Tim Morris MP, 20 July 2011:
Jul20_Ag-Vet_Chemicals_Regs_Submission_T_Morris_ATTACH.pdf
Tim Morris MP Greens Water spokesperson
