The results of a new poll commissioned by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) revealed that two-thirds of Australians want the government to guarantee the removal of asbestos from homes, schools, hospitals and workplaces by 2030. These Australians rightfully believe that asbestos is still a major health risk.

90% of people who took part in the survey also said that the presence of asbestos would influence their decision when purchasing a house. The results of this survey show that there is a strong support for the government to start implementing plans that will ensure the removal of all asbestos by 2030. Unions are set to meet this week in Sydney to begin the discussion of such plans.
The removal of asbestos in Australia is extremely important as Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos related diseases in the world. These diseases caused by exposure to asbestos include asbestosis and the cancer mesothelioma. This is mainly due to the widespread use of asbestos at the end of World War II and the 1980s.

It is thought that every third domestic household which was built before 1982 contains asbestos thus this plan to rid Australia of asbestos by 2030 is something which is extremely necessary and believed to be by the Australian people also

The federal government is setting up a national agency which will supervise the removal of asbestos from all government and commercial buildings in Australia by 2030. This national agency comes from the government’s own recommendations set out in their asbestos management review.

Bill Shorten, Federal Workplace Relations Minister has told ABC that the government strongly believes that Australia needs a national approach to the removal of asbestos and that this job can’t be left to local and state governments. Minister Shorten believes that the establishment of an Australian national body to assist with research, education and the detection of the risks of asbestos will certainly be part of their response.

Labor’s asbestos management review which was released in August 2012 recommended a national agency be set up to implement a plan to remove and manage asbestos in government and commercial buildings in Australia by 2030. This recommendation and the fulfillment of it by the federal government came after a study was undertaken on the long term health effects of children from Wittenoom the mining town in Western Australia. This town was only 1.6km from the deadly blue-asbestos mine which ceased operation in 1966 and Wittenoom closed soon after.

The study revealed that girls up to the age of 15 who lived in Wittenoom had a higher risk of developing the asbestos related cancer mesothelioma. Boys who lived in the town from the years 1943 to 1966 when the blue-asbestos mine was in operation also had higher rates of mesothelioma and a range of other diseases. By the end of 2009 there were 215 cases of asbestos cancer in 207 former residents of Wittenoom.

There has been a great deal of asbestos compensation claims in Australia as a result of this blue asbestos mine. One tragic mesothelioma compensation claim in New South Wales involved a young lady who developed mesothelioma following exposure to blue asbestos at Wittenoom, including playing in asbestos tailings as a child.

The Sydney morning herald recently reported that John McDonald, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2011, believes it was caused by his exposure to asbestos during renovations at his school and he could take action against the state government.

Mr McDonald’s lawyer has suggested that there is evidence that James Hardie’s asbestos building materials were used during the school’s renovations. If Mr McDonald is to go ahead with his mesothelioma compensation claim, it is likely to be against both the state government as the occupier of the school and James Hardie as the manufacture of asbestos building materials.

The life expectancy prediction for somebody suffering mesothelioma is sadly not very long therefore Mr McDonald is doing all he can to collect evidence so he can receive mesothelioma compensation.

Although the use of asbestos is now prohibited, the health risks associated with exposure to asbestos are still a major problem for Australia today. Australian deaths from asbestos related diseases like mesothelioma are not expected to peak until the year 2025. In 2010 mesothelioma claimed the life of 642 people, with this number expected to rise. We can only hope that sufferers such as John McDonald receive mesothelioma compensation to assist in their time of need.

There is a possibility that asbestos could be present in Tasmania’s infrastructure and public buildings. Those undertaking home renovations are advised to think about the harmful risks associated with exposure to asbestos before they go ahead with any DIY projects.

The main concern is for any houses built between 1945 and 1986; many of these houses have asbestos cement sheeting in their roofs. In Tasmania today there are still around 3,000 known asbestos products in homes and infrastructure. Exposure to this asbestos can lead to a person contracting serious diseases such as asbestosis and the cancer mesothelioma.

Due to these health risks associated with asbestos, renovators are strongly encouraged to be cautious and if they have any inkling that asbestos may be present to get it tested and assessed. The removal of asbestos is something that must be undertaken by professionals to ensure minimal exposure to asbestos.

Australian asbestos compensation claims have been made following domestic exposure.