REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS BEFORE STANDING COMMITTEE ON STATE DEVELOPMENT
INQUIRY INTO THE USE AND MANAGEMENT OF PESTICIDES IN NEW SOUTH WALES
At Lismore on Wednesday 4 August 1999
p 315 Mrs VAIL:
The other thing that is most important on this issue, particularly in the Middle Pocket area, is that since 1995, when the Carr Government came to office previously, we were promised many things, but since then there have been 17 unannounced aerial spraying incidents outside school bus hours in the Middle Pocket/ Billinudgel/Yelgun area. Despite mediation, we still do not know when this pilot is coming in.
There have been 28 unannounced aerial spraying incidents during school bus hours
that have been reported to the Environment Protection Authority and have been documented by the Environment Protection Authority. Despite 28 reported incidents, there have been no prosecutions at all. It is a case of business as usual. The children are still waiting on public roads for their school buses in the morning, and the pilot is still coming in despite pledges that he made to Ian Armstrong in 1991 that he would not spray while children were likely to be waiting at bus stops. He renewed that pledge with Ian Causley. Pam Allan, as Minister for the Environment, sent him a letter reminding him of his duty of care. The letter was sent to all aerial operators that they had a duty of care.
Despite all of this, the pilot is still coming in and spraying during school bus hours.
So, until we get the amendments in during the next parliamentary session, this will continue tohappen. Poison Watch, as a group, will not sit back for another season and watch our
children sprayed as they go to school.
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/959661deae00f40aca256cf500149c9b/$FILE/transcript%20004.pdf