- The Crisafulli Government is delivering on an election commitment by releasing the findings of the independent Swanbank Public Health Inquiry.
- The Inquiry found odours from Swanbank and New Chum industrial areas are not a cancer risk but are highly offensive and have a negative impact on residents living in the area.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start and has accepted all recommendations from the Inquiry to address odour management, regulations, improved air monitoring and future residential development.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start by fulfilling an important election commitment after tabling the independent Swanbank Public Health Inquiry in the Queensland Parliament.
During the former Labor Government's decade of decline, concerns from Ipswich residents about the health impacts of odours from the Swanbank and New Chum industrial estates were ignored.
The Crisafulli Government acted quickly on the concerns of the Ipswich community and in January announced that former Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard would lead an inquiry into the health impacts of the smells.
While the Inquiry found no evidence the odours were toxic or a cancer risk, it determined the persistent stench negatively impacted the health and wellbeing of thousands of Ipswich residents.
Around 500 people made submissions to the Inquiry, with health complaints including nausea, headaches, coughing and wheezing, skin irritations, sleep disturbances and stress.
The Inquiry's recommendations include:
- providing some immediate relief to the community from the most offensive odours from composters,
- considering options for providing long-term relief from highly offensive odours, either through the construction of enclosed composting operations or relocating composters to a new location,
- applying the above recommendations to other commercial composting sites in Ipswich,
- auditing all remaining odour-producing companies and developing an overarching odour management plan for the industrial areas,
- expanding the air monitoring program to more accurately assess community health impacts,
- prohibiting future residential developments from encroaching within buffer distances for the industrial areas,
- leveraging existing laws and considering legislative improvements to better manage odours, and
- establishing an inter-departmental committee to oversee the implementation of the recommendations.
A dedicated committee will be established to oversee the implementation of the recommendations and there will be ongoing consultation and engagement with the community and the industry.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the Crisafulli Government's response to the recommendations would prioritise the health and wellbeing of Ipswich residents.
"Unlike the former Labor Government, the Crisafulli Government stepped up to investigate the health risks to people living in the Ipswich area suffering from the Swanbank and New Chum-linked odours," Minister Nicholls said.
"Thankfully, there is no evidence to suggest that these odours are toxic or a cancer risk, but nevertheless it was an important step that had to be taken to ensure public safety."
Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said the Crisafulli Government was taking compliance seriously.
"We will, through the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, continue to enforce a court-ordered restraint and stricter license conditions to provide a long-term transition to best practice odour management," Minister Powell said.
"There has been a 70 per cent reduction in community odour complaints over the past year, and the number of odour complaints in 2025 is the lowest in seven years, which demonstrates great progress towards relief for the local community.
"We are committed to continuing that momentum.
"After a decade of being ignored under Labor, the people of Ipswich can be reassured that they matter and that the Crisafulli Government is listening to them."
Dr John Gerrard said the Inquiry showed that although not toxic, the foul smell coming from the industrial areas was having a negative impact on the daily lives of thousands of Ipswich residents.
"We found that odorous chemicals in the air don't need to be at toxic levels to affect people's health," he said.
"The human health issues aside, we also found that the smell had social impacts, with residents reducing the time they spent outdoors, being reluctant to host visitors, and worrying about the reputation of their community."
The Swanbank Public Health Inquiry report can be found at Swanbank Public Health Inquiry | Queensland Health .
