Greens call for reform of chemical regulation after Noosa fish farm deformities

Libby Connors and Gwen Gilson at the Noosa fish hatchery

The Queensland Greens have taken up the cause of Gwen Gilson, the fish hatchery owner from the Sunshine Coast who has reported fish kills and deformed fish among her stock, reportedly from chemical spraying at the neighbouring macadamia farm.

Gwen breeds native fish fingerlings, including silver perch, yellow belly and bass for release into dams and waterways.

Greens spokesperson Libby Connors visited the Sunland Fish Hatchery near Lake Cootharaba north of Noosa recently to discuss the issue with Ms Gilson. Gwen's fish farm is bordered on three sides by a macadamia farm and has Cooloothin Creek at the bottom of her hill. 

In 2006 there was a total fish kill after spray drift from the macadamia farm and more followed. Gwen's microscope also showed dying fish larvae, some spinning out of control and others with two heads (see here). Complaints to the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries found the macadamia farm was using pesticides allowed by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and the farm's spray log was in order.

After Gwen sought help late last year in the aquaculture magazine International Hatchery, agricultural veterinarian, Matt Landos, came to the farm and carried out tests. He identified three chemicals being used - Carbendazim, a fungicide with suspected hormone disrupting effects, Endosulfan, a highly controversial organochloride insecticide and Methidathione, a highly toxic organosphosphate insecticide also linked to deformities.

Endosulfan is well known for its disastrous effects on aquatic life but Landos identified Carbendazim as the one most likely to be causing the deformities. It has been identified by the European Commission as being likely to affect hormone function and to be linked to fish deformities. Unfortunately, the testing of chemicals on fish larvae is not a requirement of the APVMA. Carnedazim was de-registered by the USA in 2001 because of concerns about reproductive effects in humans.

The Queensland State Government has set up a task force to examine these incidents and the APVMA is reviewing Carbendazim but the probablity of bureaucratic inertia winning the day is very high.

Libby Connors wants State and Federal Government to act more decisively. 

She is calling for:

• updated State legislation to cover insecticides and fungacides used by unlicensed ground sprayers;
• the APVMA to establish similar review process to that of the European Union with more independent testing of the effects of chemicals on fish eggs, broodfish and embryos before approval;

• the APVMA to test environmentally relevant mixtures and to test for toxicity the whole products used not only the active ingredients;

• the APVMA to test chemicals for their endocrine/hormone disrupting effects;

• all chemicals to undergo a compulsory review every three years to maintain registration.

 "The Noosa is regarded as having the best water quality of any river in south-east Queensland and yet the local golden-eyed mullet has disappeared entirely from the upper Noosa River and local catches of bass have almost disappeared," Dr Connors said.

 "Also, all local residents including the township of Boreen Point have rain water tanks.  This is an important issue for the environment, human health and the economy."

Greens oppose Bligh Government’s privatization agenda

Drew Hutton speaking at the protest outside Parliament House

The Greens today joined a small protest outside Parliament House against the Bligh Government’s proposals to sell off public assets to make up for the loss of state revenue caused by the global economic downturn.

Greens campaigner Drew Hutton said the Greens were the only party represented in parliaments around the country which had consistently opposed privatization.

“The market does many things very well and we are not opposed to using market mechanisms to achieve good policy outcomes,” Mr Hutton said.

“However, assets like water, energy, public transport and communications should be kept in public hands wherever possible because control of these utilities is essential in making a speedy, smooth transition to a low or zero carbon economy.

“If these assets are in public hands, then a democratic decision by the Parliament can introduce major changes in renewable energy, public transport or water conservation whereas these changes would be much more difficult if they were in private hands.”

Greens Rally for Climate Action

Saturday’s National Climate Emergency rally saw many Greens turn out to call on the Rudd government to do much more to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Greens also mobilised in many other cities around the country.

A rally of about 700 heard an array of speakers, including Greens spokesperson Larissa Waters, discuss the weaknesses of the Rudd government’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a new zero-carbon economy and hundreds of thousands of green jobs.

The Greens stall looked magnificent. Thank you to the many members who came along and pitched in to help with the day.

The Greens in the Senate are working hard to pressure the Rudd government to accept a greenhouse reduction target of 25-40 per cent by 2020 instead of the pathetic 5-25 per cent targets that are part of the so-called Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme which will go before the Senate in the next couple of weeks.

To help with this, the Queensland Greens is launching a community-based campaign to educate the public and mobilise support. If you want to help in the exciting campaign please email ets-convenor@qld.greens.org.au or ring the office on 07 31731127.

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Greens celebrate most successful election campaign ever

For the first time ever, the Queensland Greens had a candidate in every seat at the State Election on March 21 - all 89 electorates had a Greens candidate to choose.

State-wide, one in twelve Queenslanders (8.4%) voted "1" for the Greens. Unfortunately the Queensland electoral system means that these voters will remain unrepresented in the Parliament.

In two seats, the Greens candidate received over 20% of the vote - Ronan Lee in Indooroopilly received 25.9% and Larissa Waters in Mount Coot-tha received 23.1%.

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