Mr Horne asked the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, upon notice, on 1 June 1999:

(1) Is the Minister able to say whether organochlorides are used in common hydrocarbon fuels such as unleaded petrol, diesel and avgas.

(2) Is the Minister also able to say whether (a) studies have been conducted in Australia or elsewhere to show the effect of organochlorides on living organisms and (b) links have been identified between organochlorides and specific orders such as chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mr Vaile (Trade) —The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

(1) My Department has advised me that to the best of their knowledge organochlorides are not used in the formulation of any of the common hydrocarbon fuels such as unleaded petrol, diesel and avgas.

I can confirm that, since 1992, with the introduction of the National Inventory of Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) requiring the assessment of all new industrial chemicals, no organochlorides have been submitted or approved for use in fuels.

(2) (a) A number of published studies have been conducted in Australia and overseas on the effects of chlorinated organic compounds on living organisms; (b) My Department is unaware of any published literature that has shown specific causal links between organochlorides and chronic fatigue syndrome, but you may wish to refer this question to my colleague, the Minister for Health and Aged Care.