15 December, 2015
Minister Speakman shows a lack of leadership on air quality
NSW Environment Minister Mark Speakman has today scuttled hopes of achieving a strong national approach that would limit levels of dangerous dust pollution.
“We are dismayed that Mr Speakman argued at today’s National Environment Protection Council meeting for very weak air quality standards,” Nature Conservation Council CEO Kate Smolski said.
“Mr Speakman has squandered an opportunity to enhance protections and improve the lung health of thousands of NSW citizens.
“Instead, Mr Speakman has let big polluters off the hook and locked in dangerously unhealthy levels of particle pollution in NSW for the foreseeable future.
“It is a breach of faith with the people of NSW, who rightly expect their Environment Minister to set strict standards that will protect their health.
“Instead, he let down the thousands of people being injured every day by particle pollution, especially communities in the Hunter Valley where coal mining and power generation cause regular high-alert bad-air days.”
Air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of more than 3,000 Australians each year, and coal mining, transportation of coal in uncovered wagons, and the burning of coal for electricity are Australia’s main sources of particle pollution.
“Emissions from the coal mining industry, Australia’s main source of particle pollution, have grown by almost 190% over the past decade,” Ms Smolski said.
“In many Australian communities, including those in the Hunter Valley, air pollution levels frequently exceed the current national standards, without meaningful consequences for polluters.
“It is unclear what motivated Mr Speakman to pursue weak standards, but given the Baird government’s record of pandering to big coal, many people will see this as another example of the coal industry getting its way at the expense of communities and the environment.”
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Coal and gasAir pollution
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