38. A
further step would be to assist lead-importing countries to introduce lead recycling
initiatives and to ensure that the only leaded products that are manufactured
are those for which there are programs in place to collect and recycle the
products.
Australia
currently does not permit the export of used lead acid batteries for recycling,
because with the opening of the Renewed Metals Technology (RMT) plant at Wagga
Wagga, there is now sufficient capacity that we no longer need to recycle some
of our batteries in New Zealand, has closed. Why can’t Australia exercise more
control over lead exports where it is needed more?
Controlling the
use of Australian lead which is exported
I would like
Australian lead ore or concentrate to not be permitted to be exported
to any country where the lead will be used for the most dispersive uses of
lead, i.e., petrol and paint/ink; but we also should be able to license lead
exports such that our lead cannot be used for uses that are not permitted in
Australia: e.g. lead arsenate, leaded cosmetics, leaded foodstuffs and folk medicines.
A further step
would be to assist lead-importing countries to introduce lead recycling
initiatives and to ensure that the only leaded products that are manufactured
are those for which there are programs in place to collect and recycle the
products.
Thirdly, we need
regulation of consumer products and lead abatement activities. Regulation is
essential, no matter how much you tell yourself, “She’ll be right, mate.” When
State Governments began to license asbestos removal contractors, in public
perception, asbestos was elevated to a hazard that could not be ignored.