THE state government should be compelled to release details of cancer clusters and respiratory diseases in each suburb, says the Brooklyn Residents Action Group.
BRAG is calling on a Senate committee to make the government release detailed information to assist its inquiry into the impact of air quality on health.
“The residential communities of Hobsons Bay, Brimbank and Maribyrnong . . . are probably the most impacted by dust and odour in all of Australia,” BRAG’s submission says.
“The impact on these communities emanates from the lack of control by operators (some are multinational companies) coupled by a history of inadequate enforcement by governing authorities, engendering a lack of trust in the community and a feeling of little prospect for improvement in the future.”
In its submission, BRAG asks the committee to call for health reports from the state Health Department with a “focus on cancer clusters and respiratory diseases by suburb and postcode”.
“This data is not publicly available to this level of detail and is not easily accessed by the public,” the submission says.
It adds that the quest for cleaner air has also heightened “stress and anxiety” already felt due to “persistent pollution that is synonymous with the western suburbs”. The deadline for the inquiry has been extended to June 26.
—Goya Dmytryshchak
