3 November 2010 – The Minister for Workplace Relations, Senator Chris Evans, has announced the establishment of a national review into the management of asbestos.
The Asbestos Management Review will assess current activities in the area of asbestos management and research and make recommendations for the development of a national strategic plan to improve asbestos awareness, management and removal.
“It’s time that we took a long term, strategic approach to these important issues,” Senator Evans says.
“Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos-related disease in the world. Due to the long period between exposure to asbestos and the onset of disease, asbestos related diseases are projected to increase.
“It is critical that we develop a comprehensive understanding of the scope of the problem and set clear targets as to how we address issues relating to awareness, management and removal of asbestos.”
Geoff Fary has been appointed as chair of the Asbestos Management Review. Fary has a background in occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation matters and is currently the ACTU’s representative on Safe Work Australia, and previously the Australian Safety and Compensation Council.
Fary will be assisted by an expert advisory group, including acclaimed researchers, employer and employee representatives, and members of the legal fraternity who have substantial experience in dealing with asbestos disease and mesothelioma claims. The expert group will be made up of the following members:
- Jim Barrett (Australian Constructors Association)
- Adjunct Prof of Workers Compensation and Workplace Law Rob Guthrie (Curtin University)
- Paul Bastian (AMWU)
- Silvia Kidziak (SL Engineering)
- Prof Nico Zandwijk (Asbestos Diseases Research Institute)
- Prof Bruce Robinson (National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases)
- Tanya Segelov (Managing Partner, Turner and Freeman Lawyers, lawyer for Bernie Banton)
- Tim Hammond (Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers).
“Asbestos exacts a terrible human toll in Australia,” Senator Evans says.
“The Australian Government is committed to doing what it can to ensure that asbestos management arrangements in Australia minimise the risk of avoidable exposure,” Senator Evans said.
The Review will build on work already being undertaken at the Commonwealth, State and Territory levels and will report by 30 June 2012. It will complement the development of harmonised workplace health and safety laws which include regulations and codes of practice relating to asbestos management and removal in the workplace as well as the Tasmanian Government’s response to the 2010 report Improving Asbestos Management in Tasmania.
The Minister also announced the Australian Government’s intention to pursue ratification of three International Labour Organisation (ILO) treaties: the Asbestos Convention, 1986 (Convention 162); the optional Protocol to the Occupational Health and Safety Convention, 1981 (Protocol 155); and the Part-Time Work Convention, 1994 (Convention 175).
More information
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations www.deewr.gov.au