The inquiry was announced following a series of stories in The Courier highlighting the plight of former Lands Department workers around the state.

Environment Minister Lisa Neville said she was working with the Department of Health and the Workcover Authority to determine the terms of reference, before the inquiry could start.

She said the inquiry “would travel” so affected families can tell their story.

Ballarat’s John and Carol Hodges say the inquiry needs to  travel to regional areas to hear from people who can’t make the trip to Melbourne.

John worked for the Lands Department between 1981 and 1993 in Ballarat and surrounding areas.

He developed a number of illnesses including meningitis, a rapidly depleting white-blood-cell count and is now battling Parkinson’s Disease.

After reading a number or articles in The Courier on the plight of former Lands Department workers, John decided the time was right to speak out.

“All those blokes...I know most of them I’ve read in the paper,” he said.

“I know plenty who are dead as well.”

John said he would readily speak at the inquiry if it came to Ballarat.

He said his main issue was the lack of protective clothing offered to workers at the time.

“If it was a nice day we’d go out and spray in shorts and a t-shirt because it was too hot,” he said.

“I know you were supposed to wear overalls, but it’s just something we all did when it was really hot.”

His wife Carol said John’s illnesses had a ripple-effect on the whole family.

“He might have left the Department - but the Department hasn’t left him,” she said.

“It’s just horrible - the life that we thought we’d have in retirement is just not going to be there.”

Carol said the family, particularly the couple’s two children, had long suspected John’s work with chemical sprays was a cause of his illnesses.

She said the lack of protective clothing was no doubt a contributing factor to her husband’s condition and that of his colleagues.

“They’ve admitted their fault because they’re actually providing safety gear now,” she said.

“What about the poor buggers who went out all the years without it?”

“They’ve got to answer to something….to somebody.”

Carol said she hoped the inquiry would one day lead to some form of compensation for former workers and their families.

“I know this sounds terrible but what is John’s future? What is our future?”

“Money doesn’t make up for someone’s illness...but it bloody sure helps.”

“It might have been the husband or the partner getting sick, but it affects the whole family for years.”

“It’s also the emotional stress of seeing someone you love being very sick.”

Carol said it was important the inquiry visited regional areas to make it easier for  former workers and their families to have their say.

“They should come to Ballarat because they’ve got a big contingent here and a lot of little towns around which all had Lands Department depots,” she said.

Ms Neville said the incomplete in-house review, commissioned by the former government, will be provided to the new inquiry.

jordan.oliver@fairfaxmedia.com.au

david.jeans@fairfaxmedia.com.au