Once again Greens MP Ian Cohen is alarmed about the possible export of HCB waste by Orica from their Botany depot to Germany.
“Why don’t they understand? It’s not the first time that Orica has tried to export their HCB waste to Germany. Last time Orica tried this the company was met with widespread protests in Germany and Australia. There will be even bigger protests in Germany, last time city leaders representing over 10 million people organised large protests in a short period of time” said Greens MLC Ian Cohen.
“The possibility of Orica sending shipments of toxic waste to Germany flouts safety concerns in Australia and Germany but it is also a global issue traversing international waters. The UN & the Greens consider best practice for the disposal of HCB waste is for disposal to occur as close to the point of generation as possible. This is known as the proximity principle”, said Mr Cohen.
“Orica risks contaminated spillage or a transportation accident on our oceans and is putting to sea the worlds largest floating hazardous waste dump. HCB waste is recognised as one of the most dangerous and poisonous chemicals known to humanity,” said Mr Cohen.
‘If the Federal Government agrees to give Orica special permission to transport HCB waste from Australia to Germany, it will be contravening it’s agreement to comply with the United Nations Basil Convention on the control of Transboundary Hazardous Waste (1989) & the Australian Hazardous Waste Act. These acts clearly state that waste is to be disposed, as close to the point of generation as possible, if the technology exists. The technology does exist. Both Orica and Australian authorities have an obligation to deal with the issue in Australia”, said Mr Cohen.
“Malcolm Turnbull was the Minister for the Environment last time Orica sent HCB waste to Germany. Let’s see if he’ll will keep his green credentials and cause an outcry in his electorate or call for the HCB waste to be processed on site in Botany”, said Mr Cohen.
“Where in Germany is this waste going to? Are they at risk of contamination or exposure from the spillage of toxic waste? Orica are proposing to send their HCB waste to a town in Germany called Brunsbuttel, which is already dealing with nuclear power plants, a planned coal-fired power plant and the addition of HCB waste processing”, said Mr Cohen.
“If this transportation of highly toxic materials is allowed by our State and Federal governments, it reduces our role in the world to that of substandard global citizens”, said Mr Cohen.
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