The Wire

Queensland’s Deputy Premier Anna Bligh’s charged with building dams, pipelines, and busways in the Sunshine State’s infrastructure boom. But University of Queensland Epidemiologist Dr Adrian Barnett says some of the developments will give the government more “bang for their buck” than they are willing to admit – and is warning of dire health consequences. He says a series of busways to be built alongside primary schools will pose serious health risks – but they’re ignored in a recent government study. Dr Barnett also cites research that pollution in Melbourne and Brisbane poses a bigger health danger than in “smoggy” cities like London and Santiago.