NSW Environment Minister Robyn Parker chose "politics ahead of people" by waiting 24 hours to notify Newcastle residents of a chemical leak, the NSW Opposition says.
NSW Opposition Leader, John Robertson, says Ms Parker put politics ahead of Stockton locals' wellbeing, and has again called for her to be stood aside while an inquiry investigates the bungled handling of the leak of hexavalent chromium on Monday, August 8th.
"The minister knew for at least 24 hour of the serious nature of this leak, and the potential threat to the residents of Stockton," Mr Robertson told reporters in Sydney on Friday. "Instead of advising those residents, this minister chose to phone her Liberal Party mate, the member for Newcastle Tim Owen, both of whom sat on that information for at least 24 hours. We've got a minister that has put politics ahead of people, and could have potentially jeopardised the wellbeing of the residents of Stockton."
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that it has discovered that Ms Parker phoned Mr Owen, to notify him soon after she learnt about the leak from the Orica plant in Newcastle - and almost 24 hours before she informed the public.
It says that the warning was contained in an attachment to an email to staff in the minister's office by the Office of Environment and Heritage at 4.23pm on Wednesday, August 10, after the leak on the Monday night.
The document, titled "Early Alert", reportedly advised Ms Parker the leak resulted in a cloud that '"blanketed the [Orica] site and fell over some areas of the nearby suburb of Stockton, leaving a yellow and red stained residue over parked vehicles and other surfaces," the SMH reports.
The document reportedly said that samples had been sent for analysis but the residue was "characteristic of hexavalent chromium, which is a hazardous substance if inhaled. Detailed investigations to determine the specific chemical composition of the residue and the hazard level are under way and are expected to be completed tomorrow''.
The SMH says that the alert noted that Orica had not contacted the emergency services' Hazmat unit or issued a media release but it was understood that Orica had begun doorknocking the area.
It concluded that the department was "not aware of any media regarding the incident, however, media interest is likely'".
The SMH reports that Ms Parker says she was informed by her chief of staff, Katherine O'Regan, '"early Wednesday evening" and has been criticised for failing to go public about the leak until 3.27pm on Thursday. But Ms Parker phoned Mr Owen, the Liberal MP for Newcastle, to inform him soon after receiving the advice.
"Tim first found out about the Orica incident very late on Wednesday evening,'' his spokeswoman told the SMH. ''It was a voicemail from the minister.''
Earlier in the week, Premier Barry O'Farrell released the terms of reference for an inquiry into the leak.
But he has stood by his besieged environment minister, choosing to blame Orica and government agencies for the delay in informing Stockton residents of the leak.
The NSW Opposition has labelled the inquiry a cover-up, because it won't hold public hearings or investigate Ms Parker's role in the affair.
RESIDENTS VENT THEIR ANGER
About 300 Newcastle residents vented their anger at Orica at a public meeting last night, with tensions boiling over at times, reports the ABC.
Orica's general manager of mining services, James Bonnor, used the meeting to repeatedly apologise.
"We are all hurting at Orica. We really want to do the right thing with the Stockton community, moving forward," Mr Bonnor reportedly said.
But according to the ABC, that did not placate many, including a woman who only gave her first name, Nicole.
She told the meeting her children have been sick for days, with one suffering repeated nose bleeds.
FEARS MORE WIDESPREAD
It was not just Stockton residents with concerns.
John Hayes, from Mayfield in Newcastle's north-western suburbs, said the leak could have spread much further.
"The wind could have been blowing the other way. It could have been blowing to Mayfield, it could have been blowing to Honeysuckle, it could have been blowing to Cooks Hills, it could have been blowing to Newcastle East," Mr Hayes said."So this is not just a Stockton problem, this is a bloody Newcastle problem," he reportedly told the meeting.
Another man was among those who asked if Orica was willing to compensate residents.
The ABC reports that resident, Graham Kelly, questioned why Orica did not respond to initial concerns from the community.
"As I understand, members of the Stockton community rang Orica on Monday evening when they saw the plume coming at the them," Mr Kelly reportedly said.
Orica's Mr Bonner said a security guard was on site to take calls.
"I'm certainly not aware that anyone rang the Orica office on Monday night," he said.
But Mr Bonner admitted he has not spoken to the guard in question.
The NSW Environment Minister, Robyn Parker was not at last night's meeting, but the ABC reports that the Liberal MP for Newcastle, Tim Owen, told the meeting he was only told at the same time as the Minister, two days after the leak.
"There was a, I think, horrendous breakdown in the process. Either the process wasn't followed or the process needs to be fixed, and I agree with everyone in this room that it is not acceptable," Mr Owen said.
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