“Sydney’s unfortunate record as the city with the dirtiest air in Australia was boosted last year, with figures revealing the number of high pollution days doubled from 19 to 37 days; including 19 days where National Air Quality Standards were breached,” Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Catherine Cusack said today.

“Australia’s National Air Quality Standards set a target in which standards are breached no more than once per year. For Sydney to exceed these standards 19 times in a single year is a distressingly bad performance that requires substantial response from Government,” Ms Cusack said.

“Air quality is the major environmental and health issue in the Sydney Basin, with experts putting the cost to human health at more than $4.7 billion per annum[1],” Ms Cusack said.

“With growing lungs and developing organs, every child has a right to breathe clean fresh air. It is a travesty that Western Sydney has the most children and by far the dirtiest air in Australia.

“It is both socially and economically irresponsible to dismiss these astronomical costs. 

“The Keneally Government blames the dry weather and blames motorists, but does nothing to address traffic congestion and lack of public transport.

“ Sydney urgently needs an air quality strategy that includes a plan to reduce car dependence by rebuilding our broken system of public transport and protecting remanent native vegetation in the region.

“We also need better air quality monitoring systems and zero tolerance of increased emissions from the Sydney basin. Our environment and health cannot tolerate the current high levels of pollution – we need a clear plan to to stabilize and then reduce emissions,” Ms Cusack said.

Attached: Figures released by Government in response to Opposition Question

Question on Notice

3496—Climate Change and the Environment—HIGH POLLUTION DAYS

Ms Cusack to the Attorney General, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Health, Minister for the Central Coast, Vice President of the Executive Council representing the Deputy Premier, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, and Minister for Commerce—

1.               How many "high pollution days" were there in the Sydney Metropolitan Region in:

1.                       2007⁄2008?

2.                       2008⁄2009?

2.               On how many days were air quality standards exceeded in the Sydney Metropolitan Region in:

1.                       2007⁄2008?

2.                       2008⁄2009?

Answer—

1.                

1.                        In 2007⁄2008, Sydney recorded 19 days of poor air quality – days when the Regional Air Quality Index was equal to or greater than 100.

2.                       In 2008⁄2009, Sydney recorded 37 days of poor air quality – days when the Regional Air Quality Index was equal to or greater than 100.

2.                

1.                       In 2007⁄2008, Sydney recorded 5 days where the National Air Quality Standards were exceeded.

2.                       In 2008⁄2009, Sydney recorded 19 days where the National Air Quality Standards were exceeded.

Seasonal variation in weather is a major influence on air quality, especially in the formation of summer-time photochemical smog. The summer of 2007⁄08 was cool and wet which reduces the potential for photochemical smog to form. In contrast, the summer of 2008⁄09 was hot and dry which is more conducive to the formation of photochemical smog. This is reflected in the increased number of days exceeding national air quality standards in 2008⁄09 compared to 2007⁄08.