Bushfires that have swept through the Tasmanian town of Dunalley in January 2013 have left potentially deadly asbestos material exposed in both residential and community areas.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited the devastated area today, including a visit to Dunalley Primary School. The school has been reduced to a heap of twisted metal and shattered asbestos sheeting, and Gillard has today made a commitment to rebuild this local amenity.
Prolonged exposure to airborne asbestos fibres can lead to the onset of potentially fatal conditions such as asbestosis. Small amounts of exposure to asbestos can lead to the condition of malignant mesothelioma.
It is not unusual that asbestos has been found in Tasmania in this form. Asbestos is typically found in all residential buildings constructed prior to about the mid 1980s. The hazardous nature of asbestos necessitates its swift, expert removal when exposure to its dusts may occur.
Tasmanian locals are calling for a swift removal of the deadly asbestos, some reporting that asbestos was found in 8 out of 10 devastated homes in their vicinity. Clean up initiatives should be prioritized to prevent the spread of asbestos and minimise potential exposure to it.
Asbestos compensation legislation in Australia has been introduced into Tasmania and states such as NSW, Victoria and South Australia, allowing those who contract an asbestos-related condition to pursue an asbestosis claim or mesothelioma claim.
