Greens accuse Premier of Orica chlorine plant cover-up

[Dan Cass]

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MEDIA RELEASE
18 June 2002


Greens accuse Premier of Orica chlorine plant cover-up 


Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today accused the Government of covering up Premier Bob Carr's inaction over major threats to residents around the former ICI chlorine plant at Botany while he was Environment Minister. 

Ms Rhiannon said, "The Premier has to explain when he found out that Hillsdale residents were living with a risk of fatality 50 times higher than the Government maximum. 

"The Planning Minister has today made a great flourish about releasing four reports, three of which were public documents anyway and the key 1983 report that was aired on Background Briefing last Sunday.

"What we need to see is the paper trail that shows how Bob Carr and his predecessor responded to the key 1983 report and why the residents were never told of the risks they faced. 

"Why did Bob Carr do nothing to reveal the massive health risks posed to people, including some in his electorate?

"On Sunday Laurie Brereton called for the Planning Department to "come clean about these matters" but unfortunately Planning Minister Andrew Refshauge is more interested in covering up," said Ms Rhiannon.






More information :  Dan Cass 02 9230 3551 

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Dan Cass
Advisor
Lee Rhiannon, MLC
The Australian Greens 
Parliament of NSW
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
www.nsw.greens.org.au/lee
To have our media releases emailed sign up at www.us.altnews.com.au/greens/subscribe.htm 



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