The Opposition has called on the Minns Labor Government to provide greater transparency over the evolving asbestos contamination saga which has impacted schools, hospitals, transport hubs and other community sites.
Shadow Environment Minister Kellie Sloane says a central register, accessible to the public, should be provided by the EPA which lists all sites under investigation and the status of those investigations.
“The public has a right to know if playgrounds and public spaces in their suburbs are under investigation for asbestos contamination. The first time people hear about a contaminated site shouldn’t be when fences are going up or the media reports it.
“This register should inform the public in real time and give them the assurance to go about their daily lives. People deserve transparency while the regulators go about their important work of uncovering contaminated sites.”
Ms Sloane has also called for clear a minimum set of standards to be communicated with councils around practical public safety measures such as the urgency of fencing off contaminated sites.
“The drip-feeding of bad news needs to stop, and the Minns Labor Government needs to be clear with us the real extent of this issue and how it’s handling concerns about public health and safety.”
