Hansard debates

                           Chemical fire, Yarraville

  Ms  KIRNER  (Williamstown) --  In  the absence of  the  Minister for  Industry
Services I direct  to  the attention of the Minister for Industry and Employment
the  chemical fire which  occurred early yesterday  morning at Exopest Australia
Pty Ltd in Whitehall Road, Yarraville, in my  electorate and which required full
emergency service attendance.
The  firemen had difficulty finding the manifest; there was  supposed  to  be  a
manifest on  the  container and another away from the container. The manifest on
the container was  obviously a bit messy and  could not be read  and the firemen
had difficulty finding the manifest stored away  from the container, so they put
water  on  the fire. Subsequently  fumes  were emitted  and  seven  firemen were
affected.The firemen then had to bring in sand to bury the fire.

I raise this matter because I drive along Whitehall Street regularly, travelling
to and from  work,  and often see  a  new  group of small  operators  setting up
storage or transport businesses in the area. By and large, it is true that large
transport  companies  are  careful  about safety matters, but I am  not  at  all
convinced that the same can  be  said  of  some of the small moveable-feast-type
operators. I have often wondered what was behind the  walls of Exopest Australia
Pty  Ltd,  the  old  Gas  and  Fuel Corporation walls. The  firemen  found  that
difficult to find out; they were wondering too.
I seek an assurance on  behalf of my constituents who live opposite Coode Island
that there will be a thorough investigation under both the Minister for Industry
Services and  the  Minister for Police  and  Emergency Services;  they  are both
involved.  Also  I would like  to  see a thorough check  of  the area within and
including Whitehall Street and Dynon  Road. No member would want to see a repeat
of the Butler chemical fire.

It appears there might well be a slight build-up of less than careful procedures
in the area  with  the changes of ownership  that  have taken place.  I  ask the
Minister for Industry and  Employment, who is at the table, to bring this matter
to  the  attention of the  two appropriate ministers and  assure my constituency
that their best safety interests will be protected.