POLLIES MOVE ON LAX POLLUTION LAWS

Wednesday, 05 October 2011 16:04

The community has a right to know when instances of industrial pollution present a threat to public health, said Total Environment Centre (TEC) today, in response to an independent report on the Orica pollution incident that was presented to the NSW cabinet yesterday.

TEC has called for urgent and comprehensive reform of the state’s pollution control system, after it was revealed last week that incidents of environmental harm are going unreported across industry sectors. 

“We welcome the reform package as a substantial step forward,” said TEC director Jeff Angel. “It’s clear that we urgently need an independent authority, with the capacity and commitment to put the environment and public health first.

"It's essential this leads to a cultural change in the bureaucracy and business.  Attitudes to pollution have been too lax - the regulators tolerate too much pollution and business has not been proactive enough - in seeking to protect the environment and local communities from dangeous pollution."

“Information on the cumulative pollution load allowed by a license, and reported and unreported breaches, must also be part of the process.”

“We must put “best practice” first, and environmental groups will be looking very carefully at the legislation brief to make sure this happens,” Mr Angel said.