Mr Coburn: …In Burke Street Ayr ,there are about 30 homes behind which there are canefields. The cane grows almost up to the back fences of these residences.
On many occasions I have seen planes flying low over the crop spraying it with poison, much of which must find its way into these homes.
The effect of this on the health of the occupants is hard to gauge. Sometimes they themselves do not know why they are feeling ill and do not attribute it to the spraying.
If they were injured, or even if death was caused by the spraying, under the Bill they would have no claim against the operator who did the spraying.
p1617 Agricultural Chemicals Distribution Control Bill
Hansard – Queensland Parliamentary Debates Legislative Assembly 11 November 1966
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/1966/1966_11_11.pdf