Unions want new asbestos campaign

Date: 23 November 2010

A major new public awareness campaign on the dangers of asbestos is needed.

ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said this week’s national Asbestos Awareness Week is a timely reminder that up to 20,000 Australians will be affected by asbestos-related diseases over the next two decades, but more needs to be done to highlight the dangers  of the deadly substance.

Asbestos poses continuing threat

The continuing threat to public health posed by asbestos means there  also  must be a redoubled effort to safely manage and remove it from workplaces, homes and community buildings,  says the ACTU.
 
The ACTU welcomes the recent announcement by the Federal Government of a national Asbestos Management Review to examine asbestos handling, removal, education, reporting and public health issues.

AWU wants members and supporters to take part in a national asbestos register

In 2009 the AWU  called for the creation of a federal National Asbestos Taskforce to manage the prioritised recall of all asbestos containing materials in all forms from the nation.

The AWU continutes to promote a national asbestos register for members and their families which will help the union make arguments on behalf of workers during the review process.

Recent NSW and Victorian reports and surveys highlight the need for national action

Last week’s report by the NSW Ombudsman not only gave a snapshot of the extent of the problem, but backed calls by the AWU and other unions for a co-ordinated plan and agency to deal with the eradication of asbestos as a national level.
 
Mr Lawrence said a survey conducted by Victorian asbestos disease support and advocacy groups that found almost three-quarters of respondents feared they had been exposed to asbestos at some stage highlighted the need for co-ordinated action.

One of the world's highest rates of asbestos related diseases

“Australia has an unenviable record of one of the world’s highest rate of asbestos related diseases and a legacy of asbestos containing materials in many workplaces and buildings, including houses,” Mr Lawrence said.
 
“Unions have a strong record of campaigning for the banning and removal of asbestos, better treatment and compensation of victims, and effective punishment for corporate neglect on this issue.

Former ACTU Assistant Secretary to run new Asbestos Management Review

“The use of all forms of asbestos in Australia has been banned since 2003, including its import and export. But, because of the legacy of its use, we have not solved the problem of asbestos exposures – for either people at work or in the general community.
 
“To eliminate deadly asbestos related disease in Australia we must decrease and eventually eliminate all exposures to asbestos.”
 
Mr Lawrence said the new Asbestos Management Review, headed by former ACTU Assistant Secretary Geoff Fary, was an important and welcome development, and consistent with calls by unions and advocacy groups for a national approach.

For further information

Contact:	Paul Howes
Union:	AWU National Secretary
WWW:	http://www.awu.net.au/

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