Queensland mesothelioma compensation claims

Experts predict an influx of asbestos-related compensation claims after an ‘unusual’ recent court decision in north Queensland, Australia.

Rod Fraser has been awarded an undisclosed compensation amount by WorkCover Queensland after his brother Andrew died from mesothelioma followiong exposure to asbestos while working at the Prosperine Sugar Mill, Queensland, for six months in 1982.

Queensland Industrial Magistrates Court ruled that Mr Fraser and his wife and children were financially supported by his late brother, a finding that has been deemed ‘unusual’ by the plaintiff’s lawyer, as brothers are not usually deemed to be dependents.

The sugar industry is seeing an increasing number of people claiming mesothelioma compensation for exposure to asbestos, a dangerous substance that was often used as an insulator in sugar mills until the 1980s.

This is because the usual latency period between when someone is exposed to asbestos and diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma can be as high as 40 years. As a result, the number of asbestos sufferers is expected to peak in around 2025.

Cases of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related compensation have been brought in all Australian states including New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria.

Mesothelioma treatment hope

Australian researchers from the University of Sydney have developed new drugs to combat cancer with only minimal side-effects.
The new anti-cancer drugs are almost ready for clinical trial, with hopes that they may eventually be used in Australia and worldwide to treat aggressive cancers such as mesothelioma.

Current mesothelioma treatment options, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, often cause side effects, including nausea, hair loss, nerve damage and more.

The newly developed cancer-fighting drugs, however, are different: they only target cancerous cells while leaving non-cancerous cells alone. As such, the drugs drastically reduce the side effects commonly associated with cancer treatment, and are being considered by the medical community as a potential breakthrough.

Although mesothelioma is a rare disease, Australia’s history of asbestos use and exposure has resulted in Australia having the highest incidence of mesothelioma cancers in the world. As many as 700 Australians are diagnosed with mesothelioma per year, wi th 18,000 individuals expected to be affected by 2020.

Mesothelioma treatment in Australia is something that you need to contact your specialist about. Often, one form or mesothelioma treatment is not suitable to a specific individual. Further, sometimes the condition of mesothelioma is not able to be treated. When treating mesothelioma, specific advice needs to be obtained and consideration by your medical specialists is most important.

Asbestos still in Australia

Australian trade unions are calling on the government to make the country completely asbestos-free by 2030.

According to the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), Australia had the highest per capita use of asbestos globally between the 1950’s and 1980’s. After this time, over 9,000 cases of mesothelioma have sprung up in Australia, with the Australian government only banning asbestos use in the workplace eight years ago.

However the Australian government is concerned with the potential costs associated with ridding Australia completely of asbestos, since asbestos can only be removed by licensed abatement professionals, whose time and equipment can be costly. Such costs are necessary to minimize the risk of workers and the public developing mesothelioma, asbestosis or other asbestos-related diseases as a result of the removal work.

The Australian government’s asbestos management review is currently working on a national plan for asbestos removal, with the final report due later this month.

Unfortunately, cases of mesothelioma have occurred in Australia following home handymen undertaking their own work with asbestos products, later developing the asbestos related cancer. Mesothelioma compensation claims have been made in some of such circumstances.

Mesothelioma Day in Australia

The National Asbestos Helpline has officially called for a global ban on the use of asbestos, a material linked to the development of mesothelioma.

The UK-based organisation, which acts on behalf of victims of asbestos-related diseases, pledged their support in the lead-up to Action Mesothelioma Day, which will occur internationally on Friday 6th July.

The NAH joins the British Lung Foundation, the America-based Asbestos Disease Awareness Organisation (ADAO) and numerous others in their campaign for a total ban on the dangerous substance.

An international online petition is due to be launched during the campaign, with the NAH hoping to obtain over 1000 signatures worldwide, including Australia.

Action Mesothelioma Day will aim to increase global awareness of the dangers of asbestos and the detrimental impact the substance can have on people’s lives.

Mesothelioma has affected many Australians from all states including South Australia and Victoria.