Ms Hare, who now lives in Charters Towers, began legal action against Glencore in 2007 after her 5-year-old daughter Stella showed high levels of lead in her blood.

Stella’s lead test indicated 11 micrograms per decilitre (µg/dl), higher than World Health Organisation’s recommendations (10 µg/dl).

Queensland Health’s ‘Bled for Lead’ campaign that year found 11.3% of 400 Mount Isa children surveyed had an ‘elevated’ blood lead level leading to the foundation of the Lead Alliance.

Ms Hare said Stella’s later tests showed up to 17 µg/dl of lead, and a subsequent toxicology report revealed 19 toxins in her blood stream. 

Ms Hare said the high levels of toxins including lead, cadmium, antimony, arsenic, strontium, mercury, silver, and copper were “horrifying”, especially considering Stella’s age.

“When you’ve got a kid who’s got 19 different toxins in her body she’s basically a time bomb,” Ms Hare said.

Ms Hare says Stella suffers from learning difficulties, which she believes are a direct result of the toxins.

“She has trouble concentrating, she has memory loss, she really struggles in life,” Ms Hare said.

Ms Hare believes the main cause of her daughter’s exposure was from the air, thought the Glencore air study concluded the potential exposure risk from inhalation was “limited” and “mostly related to ingestion via hand to mouth activity”.

Still Ms Hare said the report is “great news” and hopes it will push the company to a settlement.

“This report that we’ve received, for us, is admittance that they did know about the lead at the time,” Ms Hare said.

Glencore would not comment on the specifics of the case, but a spokesperson said “the wellbeing of our people and the community, and the responsible operation of our mine, will always be our priority”.

The court case began 10 years ago and is ongoing.