1990’s: Gunnedah (NSW) 500 people report symptoms of spray drift.

Sydney, 21 June 1999
 
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS BEFORE STANDING COMMITTEE ON STATE DEVELOPMENT INQUIRY INTO THE USE AND MANAGEMENT OF PESTICIDES IN NEW SOUTH WALES
At Sydney on Monday 21 June 1999
 
The Hon. I. COHEN: In your report to this Committee you mentioned that
two people, one of whom is a Dr David Cook a local general practitioner in Gunnedah, stated that 500 people reported symptoms such as fatigue, headaches and gastro-intestinal upsets thought to be related to pesticides. The other person you mentioned was Mr Peter Clancy who reported that following aerial spraying on nearby cotton fields a large number of children suffered sores on exposed skin and were extremely fatigue d and lacked
concentration, and often had to be sent home. Has there been any further investigation into those specific matters? In the light of this type of information, which I understand has been repeated in many areas, do you have any opinion on how we should look at financial
liability, and how we prove these types of issues?

 

https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/959661deae00f40aca256cf500149c9b/$FILE/transcript%20001.pdf

Sydney, 21 June 1999
 
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS BEFORE STANDING COMMITTEE ON STATE DEVELOPMENT INQUIRY INTO THE USE AND MANAGEMENT OF PESTICIDES IN NEW SOUTH WALES
At Sydney on Monday 21 June 1999
The Hon. I. COHEN: In your report to this Committee you mentioned that
two people, one of whom is a Dr David Cook a local general practitioner in Gunnedah,
stated that 500 people reported symptoms such as fatigue, headaches and gastro-intestinal
upsets thought to be related to pesticides. The other person you mentioned was Mr Peter
Clancy who reported that following aerial spraying on nearby cotton fields a large number
of children suffered sores on exposed skin and were extremely fatigue d and lacked
concentration, and often had to be sent home. Has there been any further investigation into
those specific matters? In the light of this type of information, which I understand has been
repeated in many areas, do you have any opinion on how we should look at financial
liability, and how we prove these types of issues?

 

https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/959661deae00f40aca256cf500149c9b/$FILE/transcript%20001.pdf