Former spray hands have applauded the announcement in the hope that a step forward has been taken toward compensation and the truth regarding exposure to dangerous chemicals.

Speaking with The Courier on Friday, newly-elected Minister for Environment Lisa Neville said the process to establish an independent inquiry would start immediately, as the process to select a person to head the inquiry begins.

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Less than 24 hours after entering office, Ms Neville met with Department of Environment and Primary Industries secretary Adam Fennessy on Thursday and tabled the inquiry as a "key priority".

The initial internal DEPI review was launched days after revelations made in The Courier in September about chemical exposure and lax safety precautions on the part of employees and management.

"I have asked them to prioritise this inquiry. It will be done by an independent person, to head up that review, and we would expect some preliminary recommendations by March (2015)," she said. 

The inquiry would also call on former workers and their families and people with expertise in fields of legal, health, cancer development and contamination issues.

Ewen "Cameron" Ching, who believes his work at the Linton depot caused his list of diseases and disorders, said the inquiry had to be done to bring justice for the former workers.

"Having an inquiry has to be done for the sake of all these people being sick..I know we used it, but I didn't know I'd end up like I am now," Mr Ching said.

"Spraying and mixing sprays and all these sorts of things, wearing clothes you shouldn't wear home, nothing to wash your hands with..."

Since speaking to The Courier in October, Mr Ching's health has continued to deteriorate at a rapid pace.

"Yesterday Norma found me on the floor unconscious, it's just my condition," he said.

"The way I'm going, I don't know how long I've got, I'm going downhill fast."

Mr Ching became sick two years after taking a redundancy package in 1998 when symptoms of peripheral neuropathy - a nerve disease - appeared.

Mr Ching now battles Parkinson's disease, sleep apnoea (a throat disorder that blocks the airways), diverticulitis (a bowel disease), a dysfunctional pancreas, a swollen prostate and cysts on his liver and kidney.

Ms Neville said the previously established internal DEPI inquiry that started in September will be handed to the independent inquiry.

"The DEPI review is not yet completed and is still a couple of months off. So whatever there is already would be rolled into one (inquiry)," Ms Neville said. 

The inquiry will be established under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act and the findings will be reported to Ms Neville, Minister for Health Jill Hennesey and DEPI secretary Adam Fenessey to be made public.

Ms Neville said the department split of DEPI, announced on Thursday, would not affect the inquiry.

david.jeans@fairfaxmedia.com.au

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