Today the Victorian Ombudsman has exposed Daniel Andrews’ arrogant handling of his toxic soil crisis and the appalling treatment of local communities in Melbourne’s west.
In 2019, dangerous chemicals were detected along the route of Labor’s botched West Gate Tunnel Project.
Instead of safely removing and disposing toxic soil, the Andrews Labor Government wrote its own rules to allow the dumping of this dangerous soil on local communities.
In 2020, despite being initially included, toxic soil thresholds were deliberately removed from the EPA’s Environmental Protection Regulations – weaking the legal regulation around the management of toxic soil.
Furthermore, around the time of the discovery of toxic soil, several former Labor Government staffers were employed by the EPA in senior roles, including the Chief of Staff to the CEO, Stakeholder Manager and a Senior Adviser.
Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Matt Bach said it was clear Daniel Andrews is playing political games to cover up his botched and blown out major projects.
“Instead of listening to local communities, Daniel Andrews wrote his own rules and stacked the EPA with political advisers to allow him to dump dangerous soil in Melbourne’s west.”
“Melbourne’s west deserves better than an arrogant Government that views it as nothing more than a toxic dumping ground.”
“Independent environmental watchdogs are not Daniel Andrews’ political plaything. Instead of doing the right thing by Melbourne’s west, Labor has chased a quick, dangerous fix at the expense of local communities.”
