Today MTAG attended the Victorian Government Clean Air Summit, a forum to help shape objectives and actions for the Victorian Government’s Air Quality Strategy.
Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio gave the opening address where she highlighted the serious health impacts of air pollution in Australia and reiterated her government’s commitment to improving air quality in Victoria.It was good to hear her specifically mention air quality in the inner west as something they are working to address.
Victoria’s Chief Environmental Scientist Dr Andrea Hinwood gave a keynote speech in which she discussed current knowledge about air quality, pollutants, sources, trends and impacts. She acknowledged that we need to reduce exposure and make our air as clean as it can be, especially where there is no known safe level of exposure.
We heard from speakers on such issues as EPA trials of low cost air pollution sensors, citizen science monitoring projects, Victoria’s air emissions inventory and the future of zero emission vehicles. Environmental Justice Australia also gave a talk on the work they’ve done around Australia’s air pollution laws and the EPA reforms.
We also had a chance to have our say on what objectives and actions we want to see in areas such as transport, health, planning and monitoring.
It was great to see health experts there, including some that MTAG have worked closely with over the years. It was also good to see a representative from the Port of Melbourne there.
All in all we came away feeling positive that government is saying the right things. But as always, talk and promises are easy and the proof will be in the outcomes.
You can read MTAG’s submission to the Victorian Air Quality Strategy here – MTAG submission into Victoria’s Air Quality Strategy