Asbestos problem in NSW needs government attention: Report

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDNov 17 2010

A report from the NSW Ombudsman says that the state government is failing to deal with the deadly issue of asbestos despite repeated warnings regarding “immense” amounts of the dangerous material still scattered across NSW.

Ombudsman, Bruce Barbour writes that this asbestos had contributed to 1,014 deaths in NSW between 2002 and 2006 but the government has all but turned a blind eye to tackling the problem. He predicted the annual road toll of 397 in NSW in 2008 would be “dwarfed” by the number of people dying from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers. Across Australia, by 2020, there would be 13,000 cases of mesothelioma and 40,000 cases of asbestos-related cancers. He said, “Historically it was workers who contracted asbestos-related diseases…tradesmen, home renovators. Innocent bystanders are now presenting with asbestos-related diseases and dying…Dealing effectively with asbestos in NSW is not only necessary but it has the potential to save many lives.”

He pointed out that the Woodsreef asbestos mine at Barraba was “an environmental disaster.” Asbestos was mined just outside Barraba until 1983, but since then four pits have remained open and unfenced, and were even promoted by the local area health service as a tourist attraction. He added, “Despite a plethora of consultants’ reports obtained by government showing there is a danger to the health of people inhaling asbestos fibres, very little has been done by successive governments and agencies to deal with this serious public health issues.” He also said that people residing in the area were “ill-informed about the real dangers of exposure to asbestos.”

Mr. Barbour further said that all the other states and territories had some form of licensing controls relating to asbestos removal. NSW is an exception with little or no regulation he said. The report was tabled in Parliament yesterday wherein Mr. Barbour writes, “Tens of thousands of fibro buildings constructed throughout the 20th century continue to deteriorate and be renovated or demolished, yet there are no laws preventing home owners from undertaking these works… Asbestos is illegally dumped on public and private land, and community awareness of the dangers … is minimal.”

He urges the government to establish an asbestos co-ordination authority and to introduce a specific asbestos act to deal with the issues. He suggests a $5.5 million in funding be allocated to the remediation of the Woodsreef mine and make it mandatory for vendors to provide asbestos certificates when selling their homes.

According to opposition spokeswoman on the environment, Catherine Cusack, the report made “horrifying reading” and needs action from the government. The Premier, Kristina Keneally, said she had referred the report to the Department of Premier and Cabinet.