A report into asbestos at Hakea Prison in Western Australia has found the asbestos poses a serious health risk to prisoners, staff and the community and it will cost taxpayers $2.5 million to fix the problem. Material contaminated with asbestos was discovered in the roofs of seven blocks with the risk of exposure being medium to high in most of them.

Most of the asbestos found can become a powder over time and it is suggested that this type of asbestos be removed immediately. The work that is said to cost $2.5 million is expected to be undertaken soon as safety is the major priority.

Western Australian shadow corrective services minister Paul Papalia has also spoken out about the situation. Calling for a register to be created which will outline which prisoners and staff members have been or may have been exposed to asbestos so the necessary health checks can be conducted. This is extremely important as anybody exposed to asbestos is at risk of contracting an asbestos related disease such as asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma. Many people in Australia are diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos conditions each year.

A Victorian Gippsland’s asbestos support group has expressed their approval for the national plan that will work to protect Australians from asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. They have welcomed this plan in light of the Federal Government announcing their commitment to funding.

$10.5 million from the Australian Government’s budget will be allocated over the coming four years to establish an Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA). Vicki Hamilton, the chief executive of the Gippsland Asbestos Related Diseases Support, although happy that this agency will be established, is of the opinion that much more money is required.

Ms Hamilton has also expressed concerns over how much money the Coalition Government will be willing to allocate to the establishment of the agency if they are elected in September. However Tony Abbott has confirmed the Liberal party will allocate the same amount of money that Labor has committed to.

Bill Shorten, the Workplace Relations Minister, has identified some of the first tasks of the ASEA. These tasks include addressing illegal asbestos dumping, promoting safe asbestos removal and setting up plans for the disposal of asbestos material from businesses and government buildings.

Considering Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos related diseases in the world, these tasks are extremely important in Australia’s battle against asbestos. Especially Australia’s effort to reduce the number of people suffering from mesothelioma in Australia and asbestosis in Australia.

To date, over 50,000 Australians have died due to the use of asbestos. Several people every day die from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Unfortunately, there is no cure for mesothelioma. However there is some treatment of mesothelioma in Australia.

Larry Graham, columnist, has criticised the various myths regarding asbestos and mesothelioma. The defence that the various governments and authorities use with mesothelioma cases is that they were unaware of the dangers of asbestos until very recently. It is because of this ignorance that they utilized asbestos in most of the buildings constructed before the 1970s. Graham criticises this defence, and states that the government was aware of the detrimental ramifications of asbestos for many years before this.

Graham criticises the myth that asbestos only affects people of the older generation who worked in mines and factories. The myths state that when these mines and factories closed down, the number of deaths regarding asbestos decreased dramatically. However, it must be acknowledged that asbestos was used in a myriad of buildings, including schools and homes in Australia. Further, asbestos particles are easily transmitted, and can be carried from place to place. Therefore, miners would have returned home and could have possibly brought back some asbestos particles, thereby placing their own family at risk.

Once asbestos fibres are inhaled, they can lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer or other asbestos related diseases. In Australia mesothelioma compensation (or asbestos compensation in Australia, or asbestosis compensation in Australia) is available to those who unfortunately do contract mesothelioma from asbestos exposure.

It is feared that several students and staff of a metropolitan school in Adelaide have been exposed to asbestos. In 2009, the school, which remains unnamed, underwent reconstruction. The installation of interactive white boards may have possibly exposed forty seven students and four staff members to dangerous asbestos fibres.

Jennifer Rankine, South Australian Education minister, has stated that reconstruction of the school took place in two classrooms that contained low-grade types of asbestos. Although these events took place in 2009, the risk associated with the reconstruct was brought to the attention of the principal recently.

Once the school was made aware of the issue, they identified the students present at the time of the reconstruction by referring to the attendance list. The school’s governing council has stated that they will be informing these students today.

David Smith of the Australian Education Union fears that there may be more students who were affected by the asbestos. Asbestos is a very fine particle that can be carried from one classroom to the next by sticking onto the students’ clothing.

Once asbestos fibres are inhaled, they can lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer or other asbestos related diseases. In South Australia, mesothelioma compensation claims have been brought. Further, South Australia has special legislation to assist those suffering asbestosis in South Australia and mesothelioma in South Australia to bring such claims.

Asbestos claims in South Australia, including mesothelioma claims in South Australia, and also asbestosis claims in South Australia, benefit from such legislation.