AN INQUIRY into toxic chemical use within the former Victorian Lands Department is due to arrive in Ballarat within weeks.
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Inquiry chairman Greg Tweedly, who started his role just five days ago, said he intended to speak to all former employees of the Lands Department and their families.
Mr Tweedly said most of his preliminary research into the saga had been founded on The Courier’s articles.
“You paint a sad story and I take that on face value as a sad story,” he said.
“I will be trying to find out what people knew, what people should have known, what they did and what they didn’t do.
“My goal will be to search for truth and that will involve interviewing individuals.
“I will try to reconstruct what happened between 1965 and 1995 in the region.
“From that I can draw my conclusions to the terms of reference I have been given for the minister.
“At the moment, I’m going into the inquiry with an open mind and I will let the facts do the talking.”
Environment Minister Lisa Neville said last week the inquiry would be “rigorous” and would include:
• A review of past policies and practices for the handling, storage and use of 24D and 245T between 1965 and 1995;
• An examination of regulations, standards and laws for the chemicals during that time and whether or not they were followed;
• An examination of staff exposure to these chemicals and the response of the former department to health concerns raised by employees.
The inquiry will travel to “some extent”, with public meetings in the region expected to be held at the end of March or the start of April.
It will investigate cases within the Ballarat region, which includes Moorabool, Hepburn, Ballarat, Pyrenees, Golden Plains, Central Goldfields and Ararat councils.
Mr Tweedly will present a report of his findings to the Environment Minister in September.
Since starting his role as chairman on Monday, Mr Tweedly said he had a team of six people and project planning had begun.
He said he expected to draw on the skills of toxicologists and other skilled specialists when required.
As the former chief executive of WorkSafe Victoria, Mr Tweedly said he was well equipped for the role.
“Prior to this inquiry, I was unaware of any of this concern. But the use of hazardous chemicals across the state has always been an issue,” he said.
“I’ll be taking some proactive approaches as well within the region by finding the potential populations within those areas.
“If people don’t come forward, then I would seek out others.”
Mr Tweedly said a phone number had been set up as an initial port of call for those wishing to make a submission.
“We would encourage people to call and to recollect their memories of the period in question,” he said.
He said submissions could be made through the process of an inter-
view or in writing.
If you, or anyone you know, is willing to make a submission to the inquiry, they are encouraged to contact 1800 987 767.
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