Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I do not necessarily agree that Defence is indeed failing to address and spell out those risks. As I said, there have been regular meetings held with the Department of Defence, represented at quite senior levels, to provide information as required. There have been community meetings, which Defence has also attended and is part of. What I do think is important is that we operate within the bounds of the science which we know, the science of which we are aware. Defence has engaged senior toxicology experts and we also have a consultant doctor, Dr Ian Gardner, who has recently departed to Veterans' Affairs but is continuing to work with Defence on these issues because he has quite significant experience in this area.

Those senators from Victoria will know that there is an inquiry underway in Victoria relating to the Country Fire Authority at Fiskville and contamination in that area— (Time expired)