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.
