The news
Queensland’s chief health officer has been called in to address growing pressure on the government over “rotten egg gas” and “chemical” odours near Ipswich.
Dr John Gerrard, who appeared before the media on Wednesday just hours after renewed opposition calls for a public health inquiry, hosed down the need for such action.
Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard says his department has only received one report from a GP about symptoms linked to waste dump odours.Credit: Matt Dennien
“I don’t think it would add anything, we’re already doing the public health work,” Gerrard said.
“And the main thing is to get the information from people who have symptoms and go to their GP ... [who will] report to the public health unit.”
Why it matters
While LNP MPs held an earlier press conference at Redbank Plains – one of the many areas subject to odour complaints about waste dumps – they are not the only ones pressuring the government.
Party-aligned Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding – who on social media is urging residents to sign a new Greens petition – was there to renew her council’s calls for an inquiry to examine health issues reportedly related to the odours, as was former local Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller.
The government opened consultation on proposed changes to the state’s environmental protection laws earlier this month, with the potential for tougher laws around failures to proactively manage any risk of harm or nuisance to people and the environment.
This followed a recent independent review that fielded more than 4600 complaints about odours – spanning “rotten egg gas, faecal matter, sewage, and chemicals” – affecting residents’ sleep and causing “coughing, breathing difficulties and headaches”.
What they said
Gerrard said exposure to bad smells does cause physical symptoms: “That’s a real thing.”
While Queensland Health chemical air-quality monitoring had found “odour nuisance values” were exceeded on some recent occasions, the levels were below those linked to specific diseases.
And despite responsibility for dealing with the issue resting with the Environment Department, Gerrard said the Health Department was keen for more data on what was happening. He urged residents to share any symptoms with their GP, who had been given an alert on how to report them.
“We can’t really go out when the smell’s around. We’re stuck inside [the] majority of the time. [Your] eyes water if you go outside.”
Redbank Plains resident Michelle Filippi speaking to the media with the LNP, Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding and former Bundamba Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller on Wednesday.
“Through GPs, we’ve only had one report. So, it’s hard for us to do anything,” he said.
Gerrard confirmed “high-level information” about health issues from complaints to the Environment Department were being shared, but said more detailed medical information from GPs would be better.
Asked why he was addressing the media rather than the health minister, who would have the power to call a public inquiry, Gerrard said he was “asked to talk ... to give you some information that was free of politics”.
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Where to from here?
Environment Minister Leanne Linard told parliament this month there had been an increase in recent compliance checks by her department, including a series of unannounced inspections in July.
An air-monitoring plan was being developed for the Swanbank Industrial Area to inform the community.
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