4th of February 2025, 6:26pm
Parliament of Victoria | Legislative Council
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan Region):
My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC in the other place and relates to the establishment of a toxic chemical storage taskforce for the western suburbs. I originally raised this matter as a constituency question back in August in the wake of the Derrimut fire, which was one of the biggest chemical explosions in recent years.
Unfortunately, it bounced between two ministers without being addressed by either. But the issue of toxic chemical storage in the west and the danger it exposes residents to is still very much a live one for my constituents. The sort of weather we are experiencing at the moment – hot weather and high winds – tends to make western suburbs residents particularly nervous.
We know that communities in Melbourne’s west are exposed to much higher levels of air pollution than other parts of Melbourne. This was highlighted in the 2021 Environment and Planning Committee Inquiry into the Health Impacts of Air Pollution in Victoria report – a report, I note with great disappointment, that the government is yet to respond to.
Along with that, they also must contend with the risk of living close to toxic chemical stockpiles housed in warehouses and factories, largely unregulated and often very close to homes. Often residents are only made aware that they are living within metres of one of these dangerous stockpiles when it explodes and envelops the neighbourhood in a plume of toxic smoke. People have no idea what is being stored at these sites.
Critically, what actions, if any, are being taken to minimise this unacceptable risk to their health and to the environment? The laws designed to protect them from the effects of pollution are not being enforced by the EPA with anywhere near the sort of required rigour. The EPA instead is consigned to assessing the damage after the catastrophe occurs rather than working proactively to reduce the risks of it happening in the first place.
Having spoken with a number of our courageous firefighters in the west, who put their lives on the line when chemical fires erupt, this is also a huge issue for them. Many of these men and women live in the west as well as work there, so it is double jeopardy for them.
We need proactive measures to protect residents, first responders and the environment from the large-scale fires and pollution incidents that happen fairly regularly across the west and other parts of Melbourne. We need a comprehensive audit of chemical waste stockpiles in Victoria.
My request is for the minister for WorkSafe to establish an independent task force to look into how and where chemicals are stored and the state’s response to dangerous chemical fires.
Written Answer
Received: 20 March 2025
Hon. Ben Carroll
(Deputy Premier, Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC)
In recent years, large chemical fires have occurred in Melbourne’s western suburbs at sites where dangerous goods are stored. The unsafe storage and handling of dangerous goods poses a real threat to the safety of workers, businesses and local communities and the Victorian Government is committed to taking strong action to promote improvements in dangerous goods safety and address any non-compliance.
In response to incidents of this nature, and as part of the Victorian Government’s response to the Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into Recycling and Waste Management, WorkSafe Victoria established the Dangerous Goods Strategic Inspections (DGSI) program to support and promote the safe handling and storage of dangerous goods through. Workplaces identified by WorkSafe Victoria as managing the largest quantities of dangerous goods become part of the DGSI program. Through the program, WorkSafe Victoria provides ongoing engagement and expert advice to these workplaces regarding dangerous goods safety to improve compliance with dangerous goods legislation.
Additionally, the Victorian Government commissioned a comprehensive independent review of Victoria’s dangerous goods laws in 2020, appointing Andrew Palmer KC as the Independent Reviewer.
The Review considered contemporary issues and challenges in the management of dangerous goods including emerging risks and issues and their impact on the safety of people and property.
The Final Report for the Independent Review of the Dangerous Goods Act 1985 and associated regulations was delivered in January 2022 and made 49 recommendations. The Victorian Government’s response supported 43 of the recommendations either in full, in part or in principle.
Government is committed to delivering on its response and ensuring the safe management of dangerous goods by strengthening and modernising the legislative and regulatory framework. Due to the scale of the reform program, it is being undertaken in phases over several years, to ensure we get it right.
WorkSafe continues to work with EPA Victoria and emergency services in responding to incidents relating to dangerous goods. WorkSafe and EPA Victoria are also involved in various cross-agency groups, including the Waste Intelligence Network and subcommittee.
Where offences are identified under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004or the Dangerous Goods Act 1985, WorkSafe may investigate these breaches. Similarly, the EPA Victoria may look to identify breaches of their Act resulting in parallel investigations. WorkSafe and the EPA Victoria have a Memorandum of Understanding which allows for information sharing during these times.
[ENDS]
