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The Hon. ROBYN PARKER: My question is directed to the Minister for Emergency Services. Can the Minister assure this House that he took all reasonable precautions to ensure that Emergency Services personnel were not exposed to asbestos dust at the Holsworthy Training Centre?
The Hon. TONY KELLY: I thank the honourable member for her question on this important matter. The Government's top priority is to ensure information and support are provided to all people who have worked at or visited the site. I am advised the Holsworthy army base site has been sealed off and that WorkCover and the Department of Environment and Conservation have been notified. NSW Fire Brigades has implemented a health and welfare plan to provide assistance to those individuals, and support and information services are in place, including a dedicated 1800 information line. Firefighters were advised last week, along with unions and other agencies, including I think ambulance and a number of others that have used the site. I am advised that the matter is now subject to a number of investigations, including by WorkCover. Therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to speculate until those investigations conclude.
I am advised a preliminary scientific assessment received by the commissioner on 6 March showed the risk to be generally considered low. So that preliminary assessment, which the commissioner arranged and was received on 6 March, showed the risk to be generally low. The commissioner has sought further testing as well as independent advice on remediation of the site. NSW Fire Brigades will consult closely with WorkCover, the various unions involved and the Department of Defence on the future management of the site. I am advised that Fire Brigades has a full complement of firefighters trained in urban search and rescue and that any planned training courses can be conducted at other sites.