The NSW government has invited residents from Broken Hill to contribute to the development of a state-wide plan on the handling of asbestos.

The call for residents to have their say follows last month’s revelation that there is only one accredited asbestos remover in Broken Hill.

It is believed an educational seminar is necessary in Broken Hill to warn people about the dangers of asbestos, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, as well as inform them of how to handle and remove it safely.

John Pearce, who runs Broken Hill’s only accredited asbestos removal company, believes that asbestos removalists should be called in for any amount, not just when asbestos is more than ten square metres, as outlined in current regulations.

Mr Pearce also believes the NSW government should invest in an advertising campaign to raise public awareness about asbestos and asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Australia was once the highest asbestos user per capital worldwide, and Australian buildings containing fibro that were built before 1984 often contain asbestos products.

In Australia, many builders who used to work with asbestos are now seeking asbestos compensation in Australia. Some states have introduced laws to assist claims for asbestos compensation being made, including in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. This has allowed sufferers of asbestos conditions such as mesothelioma to pursue their asbestos legal rights.

There is global outrage following the Quebec provincial government’s decision to re-open Canada’s largest asbestos mine in order to export asbestos to India.

The Quebec government has agreed to lend over $56 million to the Jeffrey Mine in the town of Asbestos, which was closed in 2009 following an international campaign which protested the use of asbestos.

The dangers of asbestos are well-known worldwide, with many developed countries such as Australia and Canada banning its use altogether. Exposure to asbestos can cause asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma.

As such, exporting asbestos to a developing country like India is especially dangerous due to relaxed workplace safety practices, which could see asbestos being handled and used in a way that would expose workers to risks of asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Tasmanian Senator Lisa Singh, who chairs an all-party group on asbestos in Australian Federal Parliament, has met with anti asbestos activists in India and believes the Australian government should step in and demand Canada stop exporting a known carcinogen, white asbestos, to India.

India is one of the world’s largest asbestos consumers, and with the World Health Organisation estimating 100,000 deaths per year as a result of asbestos-related disease such as asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, experts fear that exposure in developing countries will cause this figure to rise significantly.

Even though Australia has now banned the use of asbestos, many Australians are continuing to be diagnosed with asbestos related conditions due the exposure in the past.

Australian federal politician Sharon Grierson has been forced to retire from her New South Wales seat of Newcastle due to her father being diagnosed with mesothelioma.

The Australian Federal Labor backbencher described the decision to retire at next year’s election as “difficult”, as she has served her New South Wales seat of Newcastle for 12 years.

This is a reminder that mesothelioma can affect anybody. Not only will this terrible condition affect Ms Grierson’s father, it has resulted in an experienced backbencher retiring from federal politics.

Many Newcastle residents in the past have suffered from asbestos related conditions such as mesothelioma. Unfortunately, many persons who worked in and around Newcastle during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s were exposed to asbestos during their employment and as a result, some of these persons have developed asbestos related conditions.

There have been numerous asbestos compensation claims in NSW following persons being exposed to asbestos in and around Newcastle.

Mesothelioma is a rare disease which may be caused by exposure to asbestos. Australia had the highest use of asbestos per capita between 1950 and 1980, and as such, asbestosis and mesothelioma compensation is common.

In Australia, asbestos compensation in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, including mesothelioma compensation in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, are assisted by state legislation.

Lifetime TV has recently announced the arrival of an upcoming television series that is dedicated to raising public awareness of rare diseases such as the asbestos related disease mesothelioma.

The six-part miniseries, ‘Roulette Wheel of Rare and Genetic Diseases’, will be presented by The Balancing Act and starts in October this year. The producers are partnering with the Rare Disease Advocacy Research Education Project to create a series which, according to the press release, aims to “raise awareness of genetic conditions, rare diseases and treatments while helping to inspire Americans to take a more active role in getting to know and understand their genes”.

Although the show is based in America, Australia’s medical community hopes the message will cross borders and raise awareness about asbestos diseases such as pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma in Australia. The series will focus on providing information about clinical trials and new drug therapy research in the treatment of mesothelioma and other rare diseases.

With the occurrence of asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis expected to peak in 2020, Australians need to be aware of the dangers of asbestos, as Australia once had the highest per capita use of asbestos worldwide.

Mesothelioma treatment in Australia is always being evaluated and is specific to the individual. If you have mesothelioma and you are seeking mesothelioma treatment, it is important to speak to your specialist. Treatment of mesothelioma in Australia for one person may be completely different to the treatment than that of another Australian with mesothelioma.