Workplace Relations Minister, Bill Shorten, has described asbestos as being one of the worst industrial menaces. In particular, Australian citizens seem to have the highest rates of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos is, and has been for many years, a threat to the health of many Australian citizens. It is of particular danger to construction workers and tradespeople.

Legislation was introduced by the Australia Parliament on 20 Wednesday 2013 in an effort to prevent even more Australians from being exposed to asbestos. Bill Shorten expects roughly another 30,000 to 40,000 Australians will be diagnosed with mesothelioma or some other type of asbestos-related disease. According to Mr Shorten, this legislation makes Australia the first nation to proactively take steps towards eliminating asbestos-related diseases.

The development of this legislation will involve the co-operation between the Workplace Relations Minister and government counterparts, as well as industry partners. The ultimately aim is to develop a strategic plan that raises awareness regarding asbestos, asbestos management and the safe disposal of it. Through this plan, the government is hoping to eradicate this problem from the local, state and national community.

In Australia mesothelioma compensation and asbestosis compensation is available to those who unfortunately do contract mesothelioma. State Governments such as NSW and Victoria have legislation that assists those who regrettably suffer from mesothelioma, or other asbestos related diseases, and wish to obtain mesothelioma compensation. Mesothelioma compensation, asbestos compensation and asbestosis compensation are claims brought about by people who have worked with asbestos and who suffer from mesothelioma.

Ernie Bridge, the former Western Australian Labour MP, is suing the state government and companies owned by Gina Rinehart and Angela Bennett two of Australian’s wealthiest women after being diagnosed with asbestos related illnesses.

Mr Bridge has claimed he was exposed to asbestos in the late 1980s when he was in charge of removing government services from the town of Wittenoom in Perth. In the 1950s and 1960s, deadly blue asbestos was heavily mined in Wittenoom.

Hundreds of past Wittenoom miners and locals have unfortunately died from numerous asbestos related conditions including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Mr Bridge filed a writ in the WA Supreme Court last week seeking compensation for contracting mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural disease and respiratory degeneration.

West Australia and other Australian states such as NSW, Victoria and South Australia, have legislation in place to help those suffering from asbestos related illnesses pursue an asbestos compensation claims in Australia. This includes both mesothelioma compensation claims in Australia and asbestos claims in Australia.

There have been three asbestos discoveries at Sydney’s Barangaroo development site since April last year. The latest discovery took place on 28 February 2013 when twenty-three fragments of the toxic material were found in ten minutes.

The concerns from this discovery have led to a NSW asbestos group calling for a public walkway within in the site to be shut.

While there are still concerns over the safety of this site, The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has confirmed there is no risk to the public’s health. The EPA have put up air monitors and collected soil samples and have confirmed that after monitoring the site for a long period of time they have never found any asbestos fibres. The EPA has conducted a thorough risk analysis at the Barangaroo site which is definitely necessary when dealing with asbestos in Australia as asbestos related illnesses in Australia are such a major concern, especially the cancer mesothelioma.

Unfortunately, there have been many mesothelioma cases in Australia following exposure to relatively low levels of asbestos exposure.