Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes: My question without notice is addressed to the Minister for Mineral and Forest Resources. Is the Minister aware that residents of the upper Hunter Valley are suffering from serious health problems caused by damaging pollution due to open-cut mining? Is the Minister aware that the local medical study conducted by Dr Tuan Au found that one in six local children have a lower lung function compared to the national average? Given the alleged link between asthma and pollution in the upper Hunter, according to the ABC Four Corners program, will the Government commission an independent study to examine air pollution in the local district? Will the Government put the interests and wellbeing of local residents before mining conglomerates? Will the Minister for the Central Coast and the Minister for Health spend some time living in the upper Hunter and listen to the concerns of local residents?
The Hon. Ian Macdonald: The Four Corners program has had a small amount of coverage here and there. Some of the claims made on that program have received some public amplification. I gather that the Department of Health is looking at some of those issues. In the past week in the Hunter, some very respected medical practitioners have given expert commentaries about some of those issues and have stated that the claims in that program were somewhat over inflated. We, of course, are always concerned about these issues and that is why there is considerable monitoring, and more enhanced monitoring will be conducted in the valley in the future. I do not like the term “mining conglomerates” used by the member. Many of the companies are not conglomerates but are smaller vehicles. The point is that they play a major role in employment in that region with 47,000 and up to around 200,000—
Dr John Kaye: Do they have any coalmines there?
The Hon. Ian Macdonald: I am in favour of coalmines; they are good—look at the structure of Rixs Creek Mine. Mining plays a major role in that area and, as has been said recently, draws approximately $22 billion worth of direct income not including all the downstream income. I notice Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes is wearing a little badge on his lapel, which is probably a product of mining.