MEDIA RELEASE

NICK XENOPHON M.L.C.

INDEPENDENT NO POKIES MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL  

1st March 2004

ASBESTOS ‘COWBOYS’ TO BE LASSOED IN WITH NEW LAW

·                 Move to close Loophole which allows asbestos removal to take place by unlicensed operators

No Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon will introduce legislation into State Parliament later this month to close a loophole that allows unlicensed contractors to remove potentially deadly asbestos from domestic building sites.

The move follows representations made to him by residents in the Campbelltown Council area who were alarmed over recent demolition works of houses riddled with asbestos – with reports of dust and debris blowing off the sites.

Under current Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations (4.2.4) no licence is required to remove an asbestos – cement (fibro) product or other non-friable asbestos – containing material that covers less than 200 square metres. 

“The current law that applies has a loophole that allows unlicensed operators to literally drive a truck through”.

“The medical evidence is overwhelming, there is no minimum safe level of asbestos exposure, and the consequences of such exposure can be fatal”.

Fatal asbestos diseases such as mesothelioma, can strike up to 40 years after exposure to asbestos.  South Australia has the second highest rate per capita of mesothelioma deaths in the world.   It is estimated that conservatively 2,000 to 2,500 South Australians will die of asbestos related diseases between now and 2020.

Licensed asbestos removal operators are required to take significant precautions to prevent this material from escaping from building sites, to use monitoring equipment on the site, place appropriate signage, as well as using vacuum extraction equipment.

Mr. Xenophon said he expected State Government support for the move, given Labor’s previous track record in supporting victims of asbestos exposure.

“When in Opposition Mike Rann and Michael Wright strongly supported changes to the law that I introduced for the families of asbestos victims to receive damages even after the victim had died.  Mike Rann and I are both patrons of the Asbestos Victims Association of SA, and I look forward to working with the Government to bring about changes to the law on asbestos removal that are long overdue.”