Greens mining spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham has called upon Environment Minister Robyn Parker to explain why she told the ABC television’s 7.30 program that testing on potentially poisoned fish had been conducted, when the Department of Primary Industries said no such testing had taken place.
The 7.30 NSW program investigated mass fish kills in the Macleay River after a series of toxic spills from the Hillgrove antimony mine near Armidale.
“Has Minister Parker misled the public when she said tests on the fish had been done and these tests showed no link to the toxic pollution incidents,” Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham said.
“Robyn Parker must explain the inconsistency between what she told ABC TV and the statement from the Department of Primary Industry that no tests had been conducted.
“I wrote to the Environment Minister on September 28 asking her to investigate and test the dead fish that residents were concerned about and had kept in freezers. It appears no testing has been done despite enormous community concern and the risks to health and the closure of businesses.
“Robyn Parker has either deliberately misled the community, or bungled her Ministerial responsibilities, or possibly both.
“Given plans to reopen the Hillgrove antimony mine and the proposal for a massive new antimony mine at one of the headwaters of the Clarence River, the Government must assess and respond to the real and unacceptable risk of further contamination.”
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