Page 897 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 25 July 1989
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of unregistered pesticides. I note that the registrar will be able to issue permits so that pesticides may be used for emergencies or for research. The legislation will allow the registration of pesticides on the basis that they are registered in New South Wales and Victoria.
The Liberal Party's approach to the control of potentially dangerous chemicals and chemical pollution is clear. In the detailed policy statement produced by my party during the recent election - or not so recent election - we said we would give a high priority to controlling the transportation, storage and disposal of dangerous substances. Federally, the Liberal Party pledged to give its full support to the further development and implementation of the national chemicals notification and assessment scheme, which of course has to be backed up by an effective system of sanctions.
We realise that there is in Australia a multiplicity of standards and regulations relating to the use and disposal of dangerous chemicals and pollutants. As I mentioned in an earlier speech on water pollution, the tough anti-pollution legislation of the New South Wales Liberal Government should be seen as a model for this Government to pursue. Indeed, the emphasis of all legislation of this kind should be towards providing uniformity so that people who have, or wish to dispose of, dangerous chemicals cannot do so by moving them from one jurisdiction to another.
I heard stories on the weekend of how United States chemical companies used to dump - and perhaps still do, unfortunately - large quantities of dangerous chemicals which have been banned by the generally more progressive US regulators onto the Australian market because no other market was readily available and unfortunately Australia came to mind. I note that the Minister for Housing and Urban Services, who I regret is not here tonight, has said that the Government has collected potentially dangerous chemicals from the community and will provide for their ultimate safe disposal. I am not sure exactly how that would occur. The Minister is not present, but I hope that the Minister acting in her stead will be able to say exactly how these chemicals are to be disposed of. It is an issue of some concern, needless to say. The disposal of toxic wastes is already causing concern in other States. I applaud the decision of my party federally to meet the establishment costs of a high-temperature toxic waste incinerator on the eastern seaboard.
Mr Speaker, the Bill before the Assembly will effectively allow the use of pesticides in the ACT only on the ground that those pesticides are registered for use in Victoria and/or New South Wales. I understand from the Minister's office that all organochlorides are to be excluded from the register of chemicals; in other words, they will not be lawfully registered. This effectively means that all pest control companies in the ACT will not be able to use organochlorides unless they obtain a special permit.
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