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Future Sooner is holding a Citizens Inquiry that boasts a panel of eight of Australia’s leading doctors, professors, academics and health experts, and is the first of its kind held in Australia to examine the impacts from pollution on the health of local residents from coalfired power stations and the lack of action by the NSW Government.
The panel will look specifically into the health impacts from Vales Point and Eraring coal-fired power stations and will examine and report on the evidence from personal submissions and the stories from residents who appear on the day.
“Future Sooner has collected a substantial body of evidence that indicates a strong causal link between coal pollution and many health conditions including cancers and respiratory disease,” said Dr Ian Charlton GP and Panel Chair.
“Many residents of the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie may not even realise their health conditions are related to air pollution from Vales Point or Eraring power stations and their ash dumps.
“The Citizens Inquiry is an opportunity for the people to speak up about their, and their family’s health concerns.”
Honorary Professor Gill Boehringer and former Dean of the Macquarie School of Law, Macquarie University who has had decades on global and national Tribunals and Inquiries said: “The role of a Citizens Inquiry is to deal with serious issues, mainly the violation of human rights and environmental rights.
“Another purpose is consciousness raising – getting the information out to the public because, in so many cases, nothing will be done until the people themselves mobilise and do something to force attention to the problem.
“Citizens Inquiries have the capacity to make governments and industries take action.”
The Future Sooner Citizens Inquiry gives the people of the Central Coast & Lake Macquarie a voice to tell their story about the health issues they are facing. The Panel’s report will be handed to the NSW government, the NSW Environmental Protection Authority, the United Nations and the World Health Organisation.
The details
Date: Sunday 25 August 2024
Time: 1pm-5pm
Venue: Halekulani Bowling Club, Budgewoi
Future Sooner email: [email protected]
The panel
Dr Ian Charlton Chair: Assoc Professor, M.D, M.B.B.S, M.R.C.G.P. Local GP, Research
Fellow in General Practice, has a MD in Asthma Management
Dr Merlene Thrift: Retired GP specialising in acute and chronic issues and nutritional
and environmental medicine. Received a Fellowship in Nutritional and
Environmental Health.
Honorary Professor Gill Boehringer. Former Dean of the Macquarie School of Law,
Macquarie University. Recently part of the Citizens’ Inquiry into the
Health of the Barka/Darling River and Menindee Lakes.
Associate Professor Ian Wright: University of Western Sydney. Lectures in water science and management, environmental planning and environmental regulation at Western Sydney University’s School of Science.
Dr Thomas Bunn: Senior Consulting Engineer, TUNRA Bulk Solids, Research and Innovation Division, Newcastle University. Worked as a mechanical engineer in power stations for 60 years.
Dr Ben Ewald: GP. Holds a PHD in epidemiology and is a member of Doctors for the
Environment.
Associate Professor Ian Sinclair: Retired doctor. Worked in public health. PHD in
Sociology. Full time environmental activist. Interested social and
equity dimensions and political issues.
Bronwyn McDonald: Energy Transition Campaigner for Healthy Futures. Focussing on
protecting public health
For more information about attending the event visit the Future Sooner Facebook Group
If you live near a coal-fired power station and believe your health has been impacted, why not send a submission to the Citizens Inquiry?
