IN SHORT

• Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation has quit the Broken Hill Environmental Lead Response Group, citing the NSW Government's persistent failure to act on its recommendations.
• A NSW Chief Scientist report confirms Aboriginal children in Broken Hill carry a disproportionately higher burden of elevated blood lead levels than non-Aboriginal children, with progress in reducing exposure slowing in recent years.
• Maari Ma has long recommended greater program focus on Aboriginal children and improved housing quality — two key factors linked to the ongoing disparity.

The withdrawal comes in the wake of a report by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer which, consistent with numerous studies over many years, found that Aboriginal children in Broken Hill continue to carry a disproportionate burden of elevated blood lead levels compared to non-Aboriginal children. The report noted that progress in reducing lead exposure across the community has slowed in recent years.

Mr Weston has long called for a new and targeted approach specifically focused on Aboriginal children and families.

"We have recommended for a long time that the community program here in Broken Hill has a greater focus on Aboriginal children, as it is Aboriginal children who are carrying the greater burden of high lead levels in Broken Hill," he has previously said.

"We have also been recommending that the government focuses on housing, as there is a strong link between blood lead levels and the quality of housing in Broken Hill for Aboriginal families."

Maari Ma has provided lead testing, health education, and intensive case management for Aboriginal children under five years of age for many years. Despite that work, Mr Weston said the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children's lead levels remains unacceptably high.

The Broken Hill Lead Program offers voluntary and free annual blood lead screening for all local children under five through the Broken Hill Child and Family Health Service and Maari Ma's Primary Health Care Service.