Tyron Whitten (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

Asbestos has been found in the brake pads in the shaft of wind turbines at Cattle Hill wind farm in Tasmania. It's another catastrophe in an unregulated wind turbine industry. Goldwind is a Chinese wind turbine manufacturer and wind farm developer, which already has a history of breaching the conditions of its planning permit at the Gullen Range Wind Farm in Gurrundah, in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales. Goldwind moved the placement of 69 of their 73 turbines, having a significant adverse effect on neighbouring properties. Goldwind doesn't have regard for our rules and regulations. Goldwind is a major supplier of wind turbines in Australia. It supplies wind turbines across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, including in White Rock, Gullen Range and Biala in New South Wales, Clarke Creek in Queensland and Moorabool and Stockyard Hill in Victoria. There are more than 600 turbines in operation and 120 turbines in development.

Now we have found asbestos in the brake pads in the wind turbine tower lifts at Cattle Hill. WorkSafe Victoria and SafeWork NSW confirmed on Friday that asbestos has been found in a number of wind farm sites and that investigations are underway. At Cattle Hill, the turbines have been isolated from access for maintenance and asbestos removers have been employed. How many people have been exposed to date? The question has to be raised as to how a prohibited hazardous material—asbestos, which has been banned since 2003—has been imported into our country. What steps have the Albanese government and the Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, taken to stop this importation? What has the Minister for Health and Ageing had to say? I've heard nothing but crickets so far. What steps have been taken to advise people of the risks? Have neighbours to the wind farms been advised? Have rural communities been exposed? What has the Australian Border Force commissioner had to say about this? Did Border Force take samples when these Chinese wind turbine components were imported? Did Border Force know about this prohibited importation? Has the documentation been falsified by Goldwind? Border Force is required to issue a public safety notice. Have all of the states been notified of the importation of asbestos and the risk to their workers? Again, I've heard crickets.

There is no defence against the importation of prohibited hazardous materials. Unlawful importation of asbestos can be prosecuted under the relevant criminal offence provisions. The Australian Border Force issued a notice titled 'Prescription of asbestos as a tier 1 good', which stated:

From 26 March 2019, asbestos, and goods containing asbestos, are prescribed as Tier 1 Goods … of the Customs Regulation 2015 …

As a result … the unlawful importation and exportation of asbestos can be prosecuted … under subsections 233BAA(4) and (5) of the Customs Act.

These tier 1 import regulations carry penalties of five years imprisonment and 5,000 penalty units for each offence. That's a fine of $1,650,000 or 15 times the value of the goods—whichever is the greater. With over 600 turbines already imported, that penalty could, and should, be astronomical.

These components cannot be buried here. They must be safely removed and exported back out of the country. Has an order been sought to have the importer, Goldwind, dismantle and remove these components from Australia at their own cost, or will the bill be footed by Australians, who are already footing the bill of subsidising these wind turbines to the tune of a million dollars per turbine per year through their electricity bills? Notice the difference in the way this importation of asbestos has been handled compared to the recall of 23,000 Chinese cars in 2012. Where is the ACCC comment on this risk? Why aren't we hearing about this from the Albanese government? Are the unions supporting WorkSafe Victoria and SafeWork NSW in their investigations to protect the safety of workers, or are they protecting their superannuation fund investments in the wind farms? The brakes need to be put on this corrupt industry, which continues to go unregulated in their reckless pursuit of net zero. One Nation will deliver that.