Push to lift Alcoa’s FOI exemption

SCRUTINY is increasing in the aftermath of Alcoa’s failed demolition in Anglesea, with the VictorianGreens trying to lift a freedom of information exemption and Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson not ruling out support for a judicial enquiry.

The state government created the exemption in 1984 to protect confidential information during its negotiations with Alcoa to construct the power station and coal mine.

The exemption was used by state Labor in 2015 o block the Greens’ requests to the Environment Protection Authority about air quality at the then active power station.

Last week, Victorian Greens spokesperson for climate change Ellen Sandell said her party would introduce a bill this week to lift the exemption.

“The Anglesea community is being kept in the dark by Alcoa and the Andrews Labor Government about rehabilitation plans for the old power station site and that’s just not good enough. What does the Andrews Labor Government have to hide?”

Alcoa says it carried out a comprehensive 12-month asbestos removal program and that its sensors have not detected any airborne asbestos since.

However, some Anglesea residents, particularly Surf Coast Air Action and its spokesperson Andrew Laird, have been calling for weeks for the expert reports and risk assessments about the asbestos and the demolition to be made public, and for an independent judicial enquiry to be set up if Alcoa will not do this.

Ms Henderson raised the issue in federal Parliament last week, saying state Labor, Alcoa, WorkSafe and EPA must urgently make public all information about the demolition.

“No further demolition should happen until there is full disclosure and transparency.”

She also supported the removal of the FOI exemption.

“There’s no reason why Alcoa should be a protected species when every other company that deals with government must comply with the FOI legislation.

“If this transparency is not forthcoming, a judicial inquiry on these matters may be required.”

At this month’s Alcoa Community Consultation Network meeting, Alcoa site manager Warren Sharp gave a lengthy presentation on the asbestos removal and demolition but would not commit to releasing the full documents.

“I could provide all 700 pages of data behind that, but it’s going to say everything I’m going to say right now,” he said.