Inquiry will hear from Oakey folk

Parliament looking into Defence

THE joint parliamentary inquiry in to the management of PFAS around Defence bases will travel to Oakey next month to hear from concerned residents.

Inquiry chair Andrew Lamming said while the program was still being put together for the hearing on August 17, anyone who wanted would be able to have their voices heard, whether they had made a submission to the inquiry or not.

“A round table facility will allow people who haven’t addressed the committee to do it, you haven’t missed the chance to have your say,” he said.

The Oakey hearing follows hearings in Williamstown and Katherine recently.

“The big areas popping up were ... what the government knew and when, how they acted and if it was sufficiently quick to minimise impacts on residents,” Mr Lamming said.

He said another big focus raised by residents in those towns was whether the health response, in regards to mental health consultations and blood tests, was adequate when compared to the recently released Federal Government health report.

“And whether the Australian approach is in step with other economies, or lagging, as there has been some comment our regulators were slower in identifying PFAS as a contaminate when signing up to conventions,” he said.

“The last issue raised was around compensation, but we’re only in a position as a committee to listen to people’s views on compensation.”

Oakey resident Jennifer Spencer said having the hearing in Oakey would mean more residents would be able to make their voices heard.

“People can walk in and say with no fear to the joint committee this is the way we’re feeling, this is how we’re suffering, you need to help us and do something about it,” she said.

The hearing will take place at the Oakey RSL.