In Broken Hill, decades of lead mining have left nearly half of all children under 5 - and more than three-quarters of First Nations children - with unsafe blood lead levels. Now we’ve learned the Environment Protection Authority covered up a report exposing the dangers of lead mining to protect mining companies’ interests.
The government’s own LeadSmart website warns that unborn babies and young children are most at risk of harmful impacts of lead, particularly of brain damage and lifelong learning and behavioural problems.
Despite the dangers, a company has plans to mine lead just 2km from homes and a primary school in Lue in the beautiful wine and tourism region of Mudgee.
There must be no lead mining near communities unless it can be mined without poisoning children.