4 years ago
NATIONAL POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR MANAGING PFAS CONTAMINATION
THE HON RICHARD MARLES MP
Shadow Minister for Defence Richard Marles today announced Labor’s national policy framework for managing PFAS contamination around Defence bases.
This election will be a choice between a united Shorten Labor Government which listens to communities and makes things right, or more of the Liberals’ cuts and chaos.
The Liberals have failed to listen or take any meaningful action to address PFAS-affected residents’ concerns.
If elected, a Shorten Labor Government would take a national approach to address the issue.
Labor will ratify the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, a global treaty adopted on 22 May 2001 to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants, including working towards banning the use of firefighting foams containing PFAS. We will also work to create a national PFAS inventory to identify any current stockpiles, track the use of PFAS in the phase out period, and monitor the disposal of stockpiles.
Labor will improve the PFAS Task Force to make sure it works faster, and reports to government – and the affected communities – more often. Under Labor, the Task Force would publish a strategic work plan, setting out: priorities for research, including key performance indicators; assessment of the services provided to affected communities; and include timelines for activities and reporting. The Task Force will also prepare biannual reports for tabling in the parliament by the Minister.
Labor will make sure the Task Force’s work is informed by the very best science. We will continue the epidemiological health study underway and establish a longitudinal health study into any potential long-term health effects relating to exposure to PFAS. Australia’s sample size for both health and remediation research is small, so Labor will also broaden our collaboration with international organisations with expertise, including the United Nations and OECD. Labor will make sure the priorities for research will be published as part of the PFAS Task Force’s strategic plan.
Only a Shorten Labor Government will adopt a national approach to PFAS which listens to communities and gets things moving.
This election will be a choice between a united Shorten Labor Government which listens to communities and makes things right, or more of the Liberals’ cuts and chaos.
The Liberals have failed to listen or take any meaningful action to address PFAS-affected residents’ concerns.
If elected, a Shorten Labor Government would take a national approach to address the issue.
Labor will ratify the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, a global treaty adopted on 22 May 2001 to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants, including working towards banning the use of firefighting foams containing PFAS. We will also work to create a national PFAS inventory to identify any current stockpiles, track the use of PFAS in the phase out period, and monitor the disposal of stockpiles.
Labor will improve the PFAS Task Force to make sure it works faster, and reports to government – and the affected communities – more often. Under Labor, the Task Force would publish a strategic work plan, setting out: priorities for research, including key performance indicators; assessment of the services provided to affected communities; and include timelines for activities and reporting. The Task Force will also prepare biannual reports for tabling in the parliament by the Minister.
Labor will make sure the Task Force’s work is informed by the very best science. We will continue the epidemiological health study underway and establish a longitudinal health study into any potential long-term health effects relating to exposure to PFAS. Australia’s sample size for both health and remediation research is small, so Labor will also broaden our collaboration with international organisations with expertise, including the United Nations and OECD. Labor will make sure the priorities for research will be published as part of the PFAS Task Force’s strategic plan.
Only a Shorten Labor Government will adopt a national approach to PFAS which listens to communities and gets things moving.