Future Sooner has assembled a panel of eight of Australia’s leading doctors, professors, academics and health experts for its Citizens Inquiry on August 25.
It will be the first inquiry of its kind held in Australia to examine the impacts from pollution on the health of local residents from coal-fired power stations and the lack of action by the NSW government.
The panel will look specifically into the health impacts from Vales Point and Eraring coal-fired power stations and will examine and report on the evidence from personal submissions and the stories from residents who appear on the day.
“Future Sooner has collected a substantial body of evidence that indicates a strong causal link between coal pollution and many health conditions including cancers and respiratory disease,” Panel Chair Dr Ian Charlton said.
“Many residents of the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie may not even realise their health conditions are related to air pollution from Vales Point or Eraring power stations and their ash dumps.
“The Citizens Inquiry is an opportunity for the people to speak up about their, and their families’, health concerns.”
Honorary Professor Gill Boehringer and former Dean of the Macquarie School of Law at Macquarie University has had decades on global and national tribunals and inquiries.
“The role of a Citizens Inquiry is to deal with serious issues, mainly the violation of human rights and environmental rights,” he said.
“Another purpose is consciousness raising – getting the information out to the public because, in so many cases, nothing will be done until the people themselves mobilise and do something to force attention to the problem.
“Citizens Inquiries have the capacity to make governments and industries take action.”
Also on the panel will be: a retired GP specialising in acute and chronic issues Dr Merlene Thrift; Associate Professor Ian Wright of the University of Western Sydney; a senior consulting engineer at Newcastle University Dr Thomas Bunn; a GP with a PhD in epidemiology Dr Ben Ewald; a retired doctor with a PhD in sociology and a full-time environmental activist Associate Professor Ian Sinclair; and Energy Transition Campaigner for Healthy Futures Bronwyn McDonald.
The Future Sooner Citizens Inquiry will give the people of the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie a voice to tell their story about the health issues they are facing, with the panel’s report to be handed to the NSW Government, the NSW Environmental Protection Authority, the United Nations, and the World Health Organisation.
It will be held from 1pm-5pm on Sunday, August 25, at Halekulani Bowling Club, Budgewoi.
For more information email futuresoonernsw@gmail.com
The failure of the government to monitor health impacts of the community living close to polluting industries is a shameful neglect. Employees of power stations and coal mines have a health check before they become employed and yearly reviews this forms a baseline for determining any future claim for compensation an employee may have. Every company should be obliged to have a similar baseline check, regular monitoring and a compensation system for the nearby community.
Companies should also be forbidden from making donations to political parties since they act as de facto bribes to turn a blind eye to harmful pollution.
Steve Robinson