Question

I refer to emails sent to the Minister on 26 February 2018 and 19 March 2018 and/or letters of those dates from a community group, the Cockburn Pollution Stoppers, and I ask:

(a) regarding the correspondence for 26 February 2018:

(i) did the documents refer to tests conducted at the National Measurement Institute on 12 dust samples collected in the suburb of Beeliar;

(ii) did copies of these test results accompany the email and/or letter;

(iii) did the test results of all 12 dust samples identify the presence of the same elements as Portland cement and quicklime produced or processed by Cockburn Cement Limited at its lime/cement factory in Munster (factory); and

(iv) did the test results of all 12 dust samples identify the presence of chromium and sulphur;

(b) regarding the correspondence for the 12 March 2018, did the documents refer to potential heavy metal contamination in the suburbs of Beeliar, Yangebup, Munster and Coogee and the potential source of these toxins;

(c) is the Minister aware that the presence of chromium and sulphur, in particular, confirms the 12 dust samples probably contain Portland cement and/or quicklime produced or processed at the factory;

(d) is the Minister aware that in the test results dated 20 February, four dust samples also tested for the presence of the heavy metals arsenic, lead, chromium, mercury and cadmium;

(e) if yes to (d), will the Minister provide detailed information of which samples contained which heavy metals and what was the detected quantity of each heavy metal in each sample in milligrams per kilogram;

(f) is the Minister aware that one of the samples from Beeliar contained a lead level higher than dust samples collected in the industrial area of Shijiazhaung, one of the most polluted cities in China;

(g) is the Minister aware that one of the samples from Beeliar contained a cadmium level higher than dust samples collected in the industrial area of Shijiazhaung;

(h) is the Minister aware that the department has refused to investigate heavy metal contamination in Beeliar and nearby suburbs;

(i) is the Minister aware the reason why the department made that decision is because it chose to apply health investigation levels for metals in soils rather than the relevant standards for airborne exposure levels, notwithstanding the fact that the dust samples which were tested were not collected from soil but from hard exterior surfaces like garden furniture, motor vehicles, children’s play equipment and the like upon which airborne dust settles every day and is regularly cleaned away;

(j) will the Minister instruct the department to investigate heavy metal contamination in Beeliar and nearby suburbs;

(k) if no to (j), why not; and

(l) if yes to (j), will the Minister detail the following:

(i) what actions, in particular, the department will take and when;

(ii) will a copy of the department’s report to the Minister be made available to Cockburn Pollution Stoppers or to the general public;

(iii) if yes to (ii), when and how; and

(iv) if no to (ii), why not?