Send Orica back to pollution control school

Saturday, 17 December 2011 08:17

The latest leak from Orica is a symptom of a company stuck in nineteenth century factory culture where pollution and leaks were normal practice, TEC said today.

"It really is time for the pollution authority to send Orica back to school on how to manage a modern chemical factory. For too long Orica's size and economic power has intimidated governments and sloppy practises simply given the tick in pollution licences," said Jeff Angel, Executive Director of the Centre.

"This not a new situation leaks but now that the glare of publicity is on Orica and reporting of incidents is to become much stricter we are seeing the real face of pollution on and off site in hazardous industry. With the NSW Environment Protection Authority auditing 42 other chemical factory sites – we fear there’s a big shock awaiting the NSW public.”

 “The O’Farrell government will have to make doubly sure that the pollution control reform process is properly resourced and has effective community input. It remains a problem that the new EPA Board will not have a community representative.”