Port Augusta health checks

09Jan

Hon Stephen Wade MLC
Shadow Minister for Health

The State Liberals are calling for the Weatherill Government to establish a comprehensive health response to the fly ash crisis in Port Augusta as a matter of urgency.

“Given the difficulty of accessing general practitioners in the region, the Weatherill Government needs to establish a walk-in clinic staffed by medical doctors to enable the residents of Port Augusta to access general health checks quickly,” said Mr Wade, Shadow Minister for Health.

“Follow-up health checks for those residents should be made available for those residents that need more detailed examination or advice.

“For people with underlying chronic or respiratory conditions, the Government also needs to ensure that medical specialists are available to assess and treat patients, free of charge, without delay.

“A public meeting detailing the nature of the threat posed by the fly ash pollution and the best means of reducing that threat also needs to be organised immediately.

“At the height of the Clovelly Park contamination crisis, public health specialists from the EPA were available on a number of occasions to better inform residents of about the dangers of TCE and how to minimize the threat it posed to their health.

“It’s unfortunate that it has taken the Weatherill Government this long to recognize the nature of the threat posed to the health of Port Augusta residents.

“Now that the Weatherill Government has finally accepted its obligation to protect the health of the people of Port Augusta it needs to be flexible and targeted in responding to this health crisis as quickly as possible.”