Assistant Minister for Defence - Interview on Triple J Hack - 18 April 2016

TOM TILLEY:                                     

And as you heard there, last week we spoke to the Minister in charge of Defence Assets like the Williamtown RAAF Base, and that's the Assistant Minister for Defence Michael McCormack, who joins us on the line to talk through this issue again.

Michael thanks so much for joining us.

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:             

That's fine Tom.

TOM TILLEY:                                     

We heard there the locals are disappointed with your response to this contamination issue, and much like our conversation on this show on Thursday, the first thing in your response was to downplay the link between the chemicals and the potential health impacts. Now when you've got people losing their businesses, their property values and potentially their health, why is downplaying the impact your first reaction?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:             

Well I'm not downplaying it; I'm just saying that there is no connection between these emerging contaminants and an adverse effect on health. What I'm also saying is that this isn't just specifically a RAAF Williamtown issue, it's not specifically a Defence issue, this is a global issue. PFOS and PFOA have been used to dowse liquid fuel fires all over the world, but they've also been used in many household applications; they've also been used in many industrial applications. Many, many people, I'm told, in the developed world probably have traces of PFOS and PFOA in their system – that's a reality.

But look, as part of its response the Australian Government has announced the continuation of the financial assistance package that's available to fishers and businesses affected by the New South Wales Government's precautionary – and that is a key word – closures of the Tilligerry Creek and Fullerton Cove fisheries beyond 30 June – that was the deadline – and it's also introducing a new business transition payment. So they are important steps, and there's up to $25,000 to assist businesses to pursue alternative sources of income, and we've also committed to review the issue of property acquisition. I heard what was said in your… in the preamble, property acquisition once interim health reference values have been established in a comprehensive environmental investigation at the RAAF base at Williamtown has finished. Until those activities are finalised, and it's important that we do go through that full step, the Government is not in a position to determine the actual level of risk for existing property use.

But I do need to reassure listeners that we will be, Defence will be, the Government will be, continuing its consultation with the community, and we've had a team of people going up there, talking with people on a daily basis, attending regular meetings. That was the first task I made when I became the Assistant Defence Minister responsible for Defence estate back in late February, it was the first visit I made, was to Williamtown.

TOM TILLEY:                                     

Okay, let's talk about the level of compensation; you said it would continue for some time. I want to go to the wife of a fisherman directly affected by this. Chantelle, how do you feel about the level of compensation?

CHANTELLE:                                      

Look, I wouldn't even call it compensation to be honest with you, it's just ridiculous. Whoever put these packages together definitely needs a reality check, and to anybody who thinks that they can have a business transition package of up to 25 grand is pulling their own leg.

TOM TILLEY:                                     

What, are you saying that's not enough?

CHANTELLE:                                      

Definitely not. My husband, that's all- I mean, he's third generation, it's all he knows is fishing, he's been doing it all of his life.

TOM TILLEY:                                     

There's also the business hardship package of up to $20,000 as well. Is that also not enough?

CHANTELLE:                                      

Definitely not enough. I mean, we went through our up to $20,000 months ago, and now we're struggling to still cover the rest of our business overheads.

TOM TILLEY:                                     

So how much do you think you would've lost since you weren't able to fish on this river?

CHANTELLE:                                      

Over at least $150,000.

TOM TILLEY:                                     

Wow. What do you say to that, Michael McCormack?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:             

Well look, we will continue to consult. We are extending, we are extending the payments for a period of eight weeks, and after 30 June that's when the New South Wales Government is due to make its decision on the current bans. Look, hopefully they will have reached that decision, if not we will obviously review it. We want to make sure that people at least have a way of continuing to live and to pay bills, et cetera. I appreciate this is a very hard thing; I saw the …

TOM TILLEY:                                     

[Interrupts] So will you commit to more compensation? Chantelle says this is nowhere near enough.

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:             

Well look… and Defence will continue to consult with people and we will continue to hear their stories and we will continue to do our very best, but …

TOM TILLEY:                                     

Yeah, all right. Well Michael McCormack, thank you so much for coming on the program and explaining the Government's point of view on this one. And Chantelle …

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:             

[Interrupts] And could I just encourage anyone affected by the closures… they are encouraged to contact the Department of Human Services to discuss their individual circumstances. They've got a direct hotline for this package – it's 1802322. I would encourage anybody who is facing hardship to ring that hotline and to explain the situation that they're in.

TOM TILLEY:                                     

Alright. Thanks so much Michael McCormack.