Report
of 15th Session of the enHealth Council
1-2 November 2004, Terrigal, New South Wales
Opening of Fifteenth Session of enHealth Council
Toxicology and Contaminated sites
Opening of Fifteenth Session of enHealth Council
The fifteenth session of enHealth Council was held in Terrigal, New South Wales on 1-2 November 2004. The following members were in attendance:
| Mr Michael P Jackson | Chair |
| Mr Jack Dempsey | Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (for Dr Helen Cameron) |
| Ms Jan Bowman (Deputy Chair) | Department of Human Services, Victoria |
| Dr Helen Cameron | Australian Government Department of Health & Ageing |
| Ms Melissa Langorne | ACT Department of Health |
Dr Michael Staff |
NSW Health Department |
Ms Sophie Dwyer |
Queensland Health |
Dr Kevin Buckett |
Department of Human Services SA |
Dr Roscoe Taylor |
Department of Health and Human Services Tasmania |
Mr Xavier Schobben |
Northern Territory Department of Health & Community Services/NIEH Forum |
Mr Jim Dodds |
Department of Health WA |
Mr Peter Burnett |
Australian Government Department of Environment and Heritage |
Mr Owen Ashby |
Australian Institute of Environmental Health |
Dr Anne Neller |
Public Health Association of Australia |
| Ms Karen Roger
|
National Public Health Partnership (Day 2) |
Dr Andrew Langley |
National Health and Medical Research Council |
| Mr Paul Prendergast | Ministry of Health, New Zealand |
| Mr John Unkovich (for Mr Taylor) | Family and Community Services (ex Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services) |
New members: |
|
| Mr Brian Dixon (apology) | Standing Committee on Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health |
| Mr Bruce Morton | Australian Institute of Environmental Health |
| Secretariat: | |
Ms Shannon Clarkson |
Executive Officer |
| Ms Nicole Parkes | Policy Officer |
| Observers: | |
| Dr Anne Cawsey | Australian Government Department of Environment & Heritage |
| Ms Cheryl Woolard | Australian Government Department of Health & Ageing |
| Apologies: | |
| Professor Ian Lowe
|
Australian Consumers' Association |
| Mr Chris Russell
|
Australian Local Government Association |
| Mr Brian Dixon | Standing Committee on Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health |
| Ms Julie Driver | National Indigenous Environmental Health Forum |
Administration Matters
The Chair welcomed members to the 15 th Session, including new members Mr Bruce Morton representing the Australian Institute of Environmental Health (AIEH) and Mr Brian Dixon representing the Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
Members thanked the outgoing AIEH representative, Mr Owen Ashby for his significant contribution to enHealth Council.
Members noted the minutes and status of actions from the 14 th session of Council.
enHealth Council Publications Policy
Members noted that for the majority of enHealth publications, copyright will be held by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DHA). Members agreed that it is important for enHealth publications to be made available free of charge to environmental health stakeholders wherever possible.
Indigenous Issues
National Indigenous Environmental Health Forum (NIEHF) Report
Members acknowledged Mr Xavier Schobben as the new Chair of the NIEHF following Ms O’Donnell’s departure.Members noted that the monograph of the 4 th NIEH Conference will be published by the Department of Health and Ageing once the documentation is finalised.
Members noted a request that the Terms of Reference for the NIEHF be clarified by enHealth Council.
5 th NIEH Conference
Members noted the progress of the organisation of the 5 th NIEH Conference.
Air Issues
Air Working Group (AWG) Report
Members noted the activities and work of the AWG. Members agreed that the AWG should develop draft terms of reference and conduct a scoping exercise to identify national priorities from a health sector point of view.
Unflued Gas Appliances
Members endorsed the amended draft brochure for publication and distribution to members. Directors of Environmental Health will distribute within their own jurisdictions.
Unflued Gas Heaters Monograph
Members noted that the monograph will not recommend a policy direction. Members were asked to provide comment on the draft monograph in advance of it being released for targeted consultation.
Gas Appliance Health and Safety Council of Australian (GAHSCA)
Members noted a presentation by the GAHSCA and that GAHSCA is committed to work with the enHealth Council in examining the health and safety issues of unflued gas heaters.
enHealth Council and GAHSCA agreed to work collaboratively to design a study into ‘Low Nox’ unflued gas heaters, to inform future policy decisions regarding ‘Low Nox’ heaters.
Water Issues
Water Working Group Report
Members noted that the Water Working Group workshop was held in Melbourne on 17 August 2004.
Members also noted the National Resource Management Ministerial Council’s (NRMMC) inability to endorse the revised Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) without unanimous support of its members. This has created an impasse in finalising the Guidelines.
Members agreed to show support for the speedy finalisation of the ADWG.
Members also noted that:
- the Recycled Water Guidelines will be circulated for comment shortly
- the Water Working Group will prepare a national overview of the current status of water fluoridation.
Toxicology and Contaminated Sites Issues
Toxicology and Contaminated Sites Working Group Report (TCSWG)
Members endorsed the amended Terms of Reference for the group and agreed that the TCSWG be renamed to the Toxicology Reference Network (TRN).
Members agreed that the TRN should consider and advise enHealth Council on a process for reviewing Health Investigation Levels and that it should develop a draft workplan for enHealth consideration.
Health Sector Nomination to Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM
Members endorsed Mr Jack Dempsey as a health sector representative on the ‘Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM Review Team’.
Assessment of the Applicability of the NHMRC Guidance Document ‘Toxicity Assessment for Carcinogenic Soil Contaminants (1999)’
Members noted the in-principle agreement for enHealth Council to take on the remaining work of the former NHMRC Working Group on Toxicity and Risk Assessment. Members agreed that the TRN should provide enHealth with detailed advice on the priority and implications of continuing this work identified by the former NHMRC Working Group on Toxicity and Risk Assessment.
Legionella and Potting Mix
Members noted a request for health warning labels on potting mix packages to be increased in size, to raise awareness of the risks of legionella in potting mix. Members noted a need to identify the incidence of legionella, contracted by handling potting mix. enHealth Council proposed to work with the Communicable Disease Network Australia to address this issue.
National Environmental Health Forum (NEHF) Monograph – ‘Guidance for the Control of Legionella’
Members noted that Appendix 1 of the NEHF Monograph has been updated by the Department of Human Services, Victoria on behalf of the Water Working Group and enHealth Council.
Members agreed that the monograph requires review and that the Water Working Group should scope elements that would be useful to include in an updated version.
Publications Update
Members noted progress on the following documents for publication:
- The Management of Asbestos in the Non-Occupational Environment
- Australian Exposure Assessment Handbook
- Community Involvement in Responding to Environmental Health Incidents
Intersectoral Links
MOU with EPHSC and NHMRC
Members proposed that AHMAC be a signatory to the MOU, once finalised.
Interagency reports
Members noted reports from representatives on external committees and working groups.
Health Impact Assessment
Health Impact Assessment Workshop Report
Members noted that a comprehensive report from the HIA workshop is being prepared for enHealth Council and the NPHP.
Health Impact Assessment of the Intensive Livestock Industry
Members noted that the draft ‘Health Impact Assessment of the Intensive Livestock Industry’ will soon be released for broad public consultation.
enHealth Council Project Updates
National Review of Indigenous Environmental Health Workers
Members acknowledged the work of the Department of Health and Ageing in this project and noted that the review is now complete. Members agreed to identify a strategy for improving the arrangements for Indigenous Environmental Health Workers.
Environmental Health Indicator Project
Members noted progress on the development of national environmental health indicators. Members agreed to provide comment on the draft indicators.
Economic Evaluation of Ross River Virus
Members noted that the final project report will be provided to the Department of Health and Ageing in November 2004 and will be made available to enHealth shortly thereafter.
Next Meeting
Members agreed that the next meeting of enHealth Council should be held in February or March 2005.
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