Page 2795 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 14 August 1990
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ultraviolet radiation before it reaches the earth's surface. We can be encouraged that a coordinated campaign to address the greenhouse effect will also assist in curtailing the gases which damage the ozone layer.
I said I would say something about the health impact of the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect will impact not only on the health of the planet but also on all of her inhabitants. The Australian and New Zealand Environment Council has looked at the public health impact of the projected climatic change resulting from the greenhouse phenomenon. The effects can be broadly categorised into five groups. First, there is likely to be an increase in medical conditions arising from exposure to increased environmental temperatures and the associated higher humidity. Conditions likely to occur more frequently are: diseases of the skin, varying from prickly heat to basal cell carcinoma to melanoma. Also, an increase in heat stress is likely to particularly affect the frail, the elderly and the very young.
Secondly, there is likely to be an increase in infectious diseases transmitted by arthropods - that is, mosquitoes, ticks and mites - including epidemic polyarthritis, malaria, Australian encephalitis and scrub typhus.
Thirdly, there is likely to be an increased risk of injuries and deaths as a result of catastrophic events such as cyclones and floods. Fortunately, Canberra is not likely to be affected by that.
Fourthly, there are likely to be stress effects associated with the disruption and damage caused by climate change - in particular, extreme events. Psychological disorders are likely to increase as people suffer actual loss or damage, or live with the fear of such loss.
Fifthly, it is likely that there will be problems in relation to water, drainage and sewerage systems, electricity supplies and refuse disposal caused by coastal flooding. The depletion of the ozone layer will reduce the earth's ultraviolet radiation protection, increasing our vulnerability to skin cancer and eye problems.
Our responsibility, I think, is very clear. We need, as Australians, to appreciate that we have a particular responsibility to address the factors creating the greenhouse effect and ozone depletion. As my colleague Mr Duby indicated, the ACT probably contributes more than its fair share - more per capita than do other States. Australians use 50 to 100 times more energy per capita than people in India or China and therefore release an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
The Alliance Government is under no illusion that, acting alone, we cannot successfully turn around the situation. We are looking at cooperation with other governments and with our community. At a government to government level we
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