In 2006, detainees of Villawood Detention Centre in NSW were temporarily re-allocated as reports revealed widespread contamination of asbestos in the area. After the clean up, immigration officials claimed that the risk of asbestos had drastically decreased.

However, seven years later, large amounts of asbestos are apparently still present in this New South Wales detention centre. To date, it is Australia’s largest mainland detention facility, currently holding 411 asylum seekers. This means that a dangerously large amount of people are presently being potentially exposed to asbestos fibres.

The expert reports have classified the asbestos as “medium” risk, and recommended that the asbestos be isolated in controlled units until safely removed. This medium risk asbestos has been found in a multitude of heater shafts and cupboards. The non-friable or “low” risk asbestos has been found in the ceiling, pipes and floor tiles in the administration area, detainee dorm rooms and staff kitchen.

The New South Wales Department of Immigration Citizenship (DIAC) spokeswoman Lancia Jordana has submitted the department has worked tirelessly over the past 7 years to minimise the threat of asbestos exposure and ensure the safety of those at Villawood Detention Centre. She has stated that the contaminations are “well below the acceptable levels for asbestos set out under the NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000”. When asked directly about the “medium” risks, Jordana stated that she had not been given access to the expert report and relied on what she was told by the department.

Many detainees are being held at the Villawood Centre for an undefined period of time; others have already been there for months or even years. The longer people are exposed to asbestos, the more risk that have in contracting an asbestos related disease such as mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Mesothelioma in Australia unfortunately occurs all too often, the same can be said for asbestosis in Australia. In New South Wales, there has even been specific legislation introduced to assist those who wish to make a claim for asbestos compensation in New South Wales. This just demonstrates the depth of the problem. Indeed, most states have introduced legislation to assist those making a claim for asbestos compensation in Australia.

It has been reported that asbestos was found over the school holidays at the Eden pre-school in NSW which is operated by the Bega Valley Shire Council. The asbestos was discovered in one of the school’s electric meter boxes.

Six asbestos fibres were found at the school after the Bega Valley Shire Council organized for specialists to come in and examine the situation. The asbestos was removed immediately by specialized asbestos removalists and air monitoring was conducted which revealed the building was asbestos free.

The amount of asbestos that was found has been described as less than expected in a building this old. Many homes and buildings built before the mid 1980s are likely to contain asbestos. However this asbestos does not pose a risk to people’s health unless it is disturbed or damaged. If this does occur, asbestos fibres may become airborne and those people exposed to them could contract an asbestos related disease.

Asbestos related diseases in New South Wales, and indeed asbestos related diseases in Australia, has affected many people of the last few decades. Mesothelioma in New South Wales and mesothelioma in Australia is just one example of the asbestos related disease an Australian can contract following exposure.

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The Senate committee of the Queensland government is currently reviewing a bill that seeks to secure national safety. The bill aims to eradicate asbestos from Queensland by removing it from public buildings such as schools and hospitals. Asbestos experts and officials hope that by 2030, all of Queensland’s public buildings will be asbestos-free.

The Queensland Government has not shown its support regarding this bill. They have stated that the $12.3 million allocated to this bill is inadequate, and a lot more funding is required to fix the asbestos issue in Queensland. This could possibly place a burden on State and local governments to raise more revenue. The State Government has also stated that the proposed bill could lead to unnecessary disruption to the production and distribution of goods and services. That is, students would have to be removed from classrooms, patients would have to be transported temporarily to a different hospital and certain electricity sub-stations would have to be turned off. Queensland has further suggested that those who are eager to deal with the asbestos issue themselves and avoid the hassle of government intervention would be tempted to illegally dump asbestos.

On the other hand, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is a known supporter of dealing safely with asbestos. They have previously been involved in court cases related to asbestos. The ACTU supports the bill, and urges the government to prioritise the removal of asbestos.

What is also quite important is the extreme weather in Queensland. According to Mr Borowick, natural disasters and recent events such as cyclone Yasi and the Brisbane floods put thousands of Queenslanders at risk of asbestos exposure and those in Queensland suffering an asbestos condition. The Senate should approve this bill so that the asbestos issue can be addressed immediately.

In Queensland, the State Government has in the past implement legislation to assist those suffering mesothelioma in Queensland and asbestosis in Queensland make an asbestos claim for compensation in Queensland. Such Government legislation is part of the way, but the eradication of all asbestos would reduce the numbers of those suffering asbestos conditions in Queensland.