Page 4029 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 20 September 2011
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WorkSafe will examine questions such as whether the manifest was complete and whether it complied in all other ways with legislative requirements. Similarly, there is conflicting advice at this stage as to whether there was appropriate placarding in place and this will also be examined by WorkSafe investigators.
A more thorough consideration will be given to WorkSafe’s compliance response to the registration issues that I have identified. This may include:
examination of the dangerous substances register;
identification of sites with any similar substances and, if necessary, in concert with other appropriate regulatory bodies, a review of the management of substances at those sites;
identification of any sites which have failed to renew their registration and determination of whether this has happened for appropriate reasons or whether re-registration should occur;
implementation of an ongoing process to identify and notify sites where registration will expire in the near future; and
consideration of whether all registered sites should be reminded again of their obligations under the Dangerous Substances Act and associated regulations.
This incident has also raised a number of questions in the community over planning policies and regulations as they relate to the location of hazardous industries in relatively close proximity to residential areas. The government is committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment for the people of the territory and, therefore, I believe these policies and practices should be examined in light of contemporary best practice used in other jurisdictions both nationally and internationally.
To that end, I can advise the Assembly that I have instructed the director-general of the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate to commission an independent and expert review of these matters. I will announce terms of reference and the identity of the independent reviewer in the near future.
Finally, I will turn to the issues around communications to the public about this incident. Emergency alert is a nationally coordinated, telephony-based warning system designed to send messages to the landline and mobile telephones of residents in a defined geographic area. The ACT is a partner in emergency alert and has established a capacity to use the system operationally in the ACT.
Two emergency alert messages were issued as a result of this incident. The first was issued at approximately 1.40 am on Friday, 16 September. It was issued to people with registered billing addresses for mobile and landline telephones within the suburb of Mitchell, including EPIC and the Canberra racecourse. The first voice message advised:
Emergency. Emergency. The ACT Fire Brigade is responding to a Chemical incident in Mitchell. Residents are advised to evacuate the suburb immediately including the racecourse and EPIC. Further information is available via Canberra Connect, or go to www.esa.act.gov.au.
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