The Asbestos Diseases Research Institute and the Asbestos Education Committee, in conjunction with lifestyle television presenters such as Don Bourke, have launched Asbestos Awareness Week. Karen Banton, widow of campaigner Bernie Banton, kicked off Asbestos Awareness Week yesterday in Hobart, urging individuals to identify the presence of asbestos in their homes.

Australia leads the world in rates of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis, and was one of the largest per-capita consumers of asbestos. It is estimated that three million homes in Australia still contain asbestos, and that by 2020, the number of fatalities from asbestos-related conditions will exceed the death toll from World War 1.

Rates of mesothelioma contraction rose between 2005 and 2008 due to exposure to asbestos fibres during home renovations. Asbestos poses a serious threat to home renovators due to the latency period between exposure and contraction of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions.

Asbestos Awareness Week emphasizes that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres, nor are there any known cures to asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma.

The Asbestos Awareness Ambassadors will begin the initiative with a model asbestos-education home; the first of its kind in Australia. ‘Betty –The ADRI House’ seeks to educate Australians about the dangers of asbestos when renovating or maintaining homes and featured information on where asbestos may be present in the home.

Mesothelioma compensation is available in NSW, Victoria and South Australia under specific legislation allowing those suffering from asbestos-related conditions to pursue an asbestos compensation claims in Australia.

Hobart has faced a major asbestos scare as hundreds of broken asbestos pieces have been found scatted all over the Peter Murrell Reserve in Howden, Tasmaina. Apparently blue asbestos was among what was found. This asbestos is the most dangerous type of asbestos to human’s health. Inhaling even small amounts of asbestos fibres can lead to somebody developing an asbestos related disease such as mesothelioma.

People live and walk their dogs around this reserve and the lack of warning signs or barriers to ensure the public isn’t exposed to asbestos increases the risk of such persons contracting mesothelioma. Parks and Wildlife Services have committed to remove asbestos as it is discovered and reported by the community.

An investigation and clean up is really needed in order to ensure there is no asbestos present in this reserve. Asbestos removal is extremely important in removing the risk of mesothelioma and other asbestos conditions such as asbestosis. Mesothelioma is expected to peak over the next decade. Legislation has been introduced in Australian States such as NSW and Victoria to assist those people struggling with asbestos conditions to pursue an asbestos compensation claim in Australia, including both a mesothelioma compensation in Australia and asbestosis compensation claims in Australia.

In the Central Coast of NSW asbestos has been discovered in eight electricity substations that have been described as being in a “poor” condition. Major surface damage increases the risk of exposure to asbestos which may lead to conditions such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.

While asbestos is present in other electricity substations across NSW, they remain bonded and do not exacerbate the risk of employees contracting mesothelioma.

The Electrical Trades Union has released documents that reveal 49 documented cases of asbestos-related illness in Ausgrid employees in 22 years. However due to the latency period between exposure to asbestos and contraction of mesothelioma it is difficult to identify how many electrical trades workers in Australia have been exposed to asbestos and may contract an asbestos-related illness in the future.

Much to the dismay of Union secretary Steve Butler, asbestos removal programs have been suspended due to reluctance from companies to pay overtime. This is in spite of documents released indicating the presence of dangerous “friable” asbestos.

Says Steve Bulter, “At least two people are developing either mesothelioma or asbestosis at Ausgrid each year and the number is likely to rise.”

While the NSW government has acknowledged the need for an audit, a full-scale removal of all asbestos has been called for by the union.

Mesothelioma compensation is available throughout Australia, and electrical workers in NSW have pursued asbestos claims in NSW in the past.

Talks between Canberra and the Commonwealth to try and resolve Canberra’s buried asbestos have failed. With neither accepting responsibility nor the clean up bill for asbestos that has been buried for decades across more then 100 sites in Canberra.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher is placing pressure on Julia Gillard to get involved; believing that the Commonwealth of Australia has a moral and financial responsibility to the people of Canberra to clean up sites that were contaminated with asbestos prior to Canberra becoming its own government.

One site that is of major concern for Canberra is the East Lake development at Kingston, it has been reported that there is over 600,000 cubic metres of asbestos polluted soil here mostly as a result of the construction of Parliament House. The Commonwealth has refused to assist in the clean up, which is estimated to cost $90 million dollars; they believe because the ownership of the land was transferred to Canberra upon self-government and it is their responsibility.

The removal of asbestos in all Australian states is vital in the battle against asbestos-related diseases as even minimal exposure to asbestos can lead to an individual contracting mesothelioma. Legislation is in place to assist people with Australian asbestos compensation claims, including mesothelioma compensation claims, however if effective asbestos removal was undertaken these people may not need such help.