Its federal council passed resolutions calling for greater scrutiny around the health effects of CSG extraction on communities, saying that project proposals should include health risk assessments.
“Despite the rapid expansion of CSG developments, the health impacts have not been adequately researched, and effective regulations that protect public health are not in place,” AMA president Steve Hambleton said.
“There is a lack of information on the chemicals used and wastes produced, insufficient data on cumulative health impacts, and a lack of comprehensive environmental and health impact assessments.”
He also said projects that did not address health risks should not proceed.
The AMA’s call comes despite a Queensland Health Department investigation into a spate of illnesses near Tara finding that symptoms were too broad to be able to contribute them to the CSG industry.
“The available evidence does not support the concern among some residents that excessive exposure to emissions from the CSG activities of the cause of the symptoms they have reported,” the department said.
While the report said that air sampling done as part of the review was enough to dismiss the claims, the data was insufficient to “properly characterise any cumulative impacts on air quality in the region, particularly given the anticipated growth of the industry”
The independent expert scientific committee is also undertaking research into the health effects that could be caused by CSG extraction.
