Actions over Oakey water down drain

IT IS not a time for finger pointing nor is it the time to be playing politics with the water contamination issue at Oakey.

As an integral part of our region’s economic structure, it is imperative that the Department of Defence act now given the Senate inquiry concluded back on May 4.

One can appreciate that the department needs to carefully consider the report’s recommendations, but surely alarm bells are going off regarding the timeframe so some firm direction can be ascertained in order to address this mess.

Imagine the response by residents after finding out it needed an overseas agency to conduct research into the damaging effects of these chemicals before any further decisions could be settled upon.

Shine Lawyers partner Peter Shannon rightly points out that this has become a national disgrace and affected residents are most definitely entitled to some form of compensation.

It’s bad enough that the groundwater is hazardous, but imagine the mental anguish of people trying to go about their daily lives with this hanging over their heads.

One can only wonder what the response would be by this government if the same scenario was to play out in one of Canberra’s outlying suburbs.

No doubt with a Federal Election just around the corner, hopeful candidates will need to have a firm action plan to rectify this situation if they are to have any chance of being elected.