[Greens-Media] Greens bid to uncover Alcoa's secret Anglesea health report

[Elizabeth.Ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber will introduce a private member’s bill 
in Victorian Parliament tomorrow that removes a special exemption for 
Alcoa from Victoria’s freedom of information laws.  The exemption is being 
used to keep public health information from the residents of Anglesea.

"There was a special law written in 1984 to protect confidential 
information the Victorian government received during its negotiations with 
Alcoa to continue construction of the Portland aluminium smelter," said 
Greg Barber

"Decades later, it no longer has a purpose, but it’s being used against 
the community."

"The exemption is so broad that Alcoa used it this year to prevent the EPA 
from releasing an Air Emissions Study & Human Health Risk assessment 
related to the Alcoa coal mine and power station at Anglesea."

"If it was any company other than Alcoa, the EPA would have released the 
health assessment."

"Alcoa should operate under the same freedom of information regime as 
every other commercial enterprise in Victoria."

"Alcoa’s special exemption is not necessary and it won’t harm Alcoa’s 
commercial interests to remove it."

"Commercially sensitive documents are protected by freedom of information 
laws in Victoria. There is no need for Victoria to maintain a special 
right for one company – Alcoa – to keep community health information 
secret," said Mr Barber

For comment: Greg Barber - 0433 044 771

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Liz Ingham
Office of Greg Barber MLC
Northern Metropolitan Region
Victorian Greens Leader

P: 9348 2622
M: 0409 333 595
E: elizabeth.ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au
W: http://mps.vic.greens.org.au


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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 
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