Direct From Cusack, fish in Sydney Harbour are contaminated with cancer causing toxins

Fishing

by StreetCorner
01/11/2010

This 'Direct from the desk of' is news from Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Catherine Cusack who is warning the public to not eat fish caught west of the Harbour Bridge and not more than 150 grams a month of fish caught east of the Bridge because of contamination.

“The failure of the Keneally Labor Government to make public 2008 data that reveals all the fish in Sydney Harbour should be considered contaminated with cancer-causing toxins, is a major dereliction of their duty of care to the public Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Catherine Cusack said today.

The data revealing contamination from the former Union Carbide site opposite Homebush Bay continues to spread, and will affect all fish in the harbour for decades, has only been revealed today as a result of an FOI by the Sydney Morning Herald.

"It is incredible the State Labor Government has sat on this data and failed to issue public health warnings through the media and paid advertising," Ms Cusack said.

"Unfortunately this appears to be another example of the incompetent Keneally Labor Government being 'lights, camera, but no action'.

"The message we have got to get across to the public is - Don't eat any fish caught west of the Harbour Bridge - and don't eat more than 150 grams a month of fish caught east of the Harbour Bridge.

"Environment Minister Frank Sartor should also explain what actions he and his Department are undertaking to recover costs of the clean-up and the public health advertising campaign from Union Carbide whose Homebush Bay facilities have been confirmed as the source of contamination," Ms Cusack said. “

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DioxinMan posts

A disgusting NSW government shown up for what it is- heartless, cruel and evil. Australia has the most contaminted dioxin land in the world, covering a large area of our capital city, and they do absolutly nothing to research the effects of it upon the fishermen and their families. Government is actually doing more research on the fish! Maybe they think there is some green votes in taking that approach? Liberal opposition should make a policy before the next election - about monitoring the health of the fishermen and their families, and doing something to assist them get the dioxin out of their bodies! And where is Union Carbide/ DOW Chemicals? How come they just get to walk away, and Australia pretends we are like India, just some backwater where US multinational corporations can poison our citizens with impunity! Labor Party protecting the workers hey!