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.
