Greens call for urgent banning of transport of lead carbonate

The Greens have renewed calls for the banning of the transport of lead carbonate following the discovery that the poisonous dust had been found to have leaked at the Fremantle Port.

“The Greens have been consistently opposed to the transport of lead carbonate and were vocal in their opposition to environmental approvals being granted to Magellan by the Barnett Government,” Alison Xamon MLC, Greens spokesperson for Transport said today.

“We warned that there was always an unacceptable risk in lead being transported in this form and yet the warnings were not heeded.  Now we see that we are  faced with yet another serious environmental concern from a Government with a reputation for a disturbing indifference to the potential for adverse environmental impacts.”

“Simply, the former Environment Minister Hon Donna Faragher should never have buckled and granted approval for the transport of this dangerous substance and we now call on Minister Marmion to urgently rectify this mistake and withdraw environmental approval to transport the lead carbonate.”

“Lead should only be transported in pelletised or ingot form.  Anything less is simply too dangerous.  The Greens are once again calling for lead to be smelted locally before any transport is undertaken.”

Of particular concern is that the lead carbonate has been transported through 22 metropolitan suburbs and numerous country towns.

“This is not only a Fremantle issue.  We need to know whether any other areas have been subject to the leaks.  There must be independent assessment along the entire rail line, the results must be made public in order to restore public confidence, and any cost of clean up that is required must be borne by Magellan,” Ms Xamon said.

“But even with these conditions to address the current emergency, all transport of lead carbonate must cease and we call on Ministers Marmion and Buswell to act swiftly to ensure just that.”

“Anything less means that nothing has been learnt from the ongoing tragedy of the Esperance lead contamination,” Ms Xamon concluded.