Mr BONSON - 2004-12-01
Can you advise the House on the steps being taken to ensure world’s best practice in handling asbestos in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. It is a topical issue. It has been made topical over recent weeks and months with exposure of and the difficulties that surround James Hardie as a company, and their workers who have been exposed to asbestos over the years. Also, in the Territory with a number of incidents within schools. If anything good has come out of those situations - tragic as it is in the case of the James Hardie workers - it has been the fact that we have heightened awareness around asbestos issues.
There are a large number of buildings in the Northern Territory that contain asbestos. Many buildings built prior to 1990 probably contain elements of asbestos. Government agencies, generally, have handled the issues pretty well. However, we were very concerned with the recent incident where a school’s asbestos register came up short on what was actually found in the building.
To ensure that we are, indeed, implementing world’s best practice, we instituted a review of all of the procedures and handling of asbestos, and the question of asbestos registers held by government. That review is being headed up by David Rolfe within the Chief Minister’s Department, and it contains private industry people represented by the TCA, and the unions represented by the Trades and Labour Council.
We also decided to have an asbestos awareness campaign, and we have brought that forward. I was pleased to launch that campaign at lunchtime. It is multimedia - it will be newspaper, television and radio. A number of brochures and information booklets are to go out with it. These advertisements are tremendous, and I congratulate Media and Marketing in DEET, headed up by Jayne Gray, and Simon Manzie from the production company that worked on these, because it was done very quickly. The ads are terrific and they will run tonight.
They focus on three crucial areas: in schools, contractors and tradespersons, and do-it-yourself renovators. The key messages are to stop, think asbestos, and seek advice. The message is as simple as that, which is what we urge Territorians to do. So, when working on a building constructed before 1990, exactly that: stop, think asbestos, seek advice.
We wish to assure Territorians that asbestos, in its pristine state, is not a health risk if it is in good condition and if it is left undisturbed. However, breaking, drilling or removal of asbestos material can pose serious health risks with the fibres and dust that can occur if safety precautions are not taken.
Efforts are being made to raise awareness in remote areas as well. All schools will receive a kit, all contractors will receive a booklet, and advertising will appear on Imparja Television. A couple of the booklets are information for the do-it-yourself renovator; information for schools; information for trade contractors are part of the awareness campaign. I table those.
In addition, the government has announced a register for recording potential exposure by individuals, which has still to be established, and a regime exists for the registration and use of licensed asbestos removalists.
It is intended that a national code of practice and standards will be in place by July 2005. Registers and the like are necessary. However, the most important thing is for everyone to adopt a change of attitude. That is what will save lives. Until now, you could probably say the attitude has been one that treats a building as if it does not contain asbestos. We want to reverse that attitude. We do not want people to panic, we do not want to scare them, but we do want them to be aware of the potential dangers around asbestos, and they need to think: ‘This might contain asbestos’. If in doubt, seek advice, get it checked out and obtain all the advice on how to proceed.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. It is a topical issue. It has been made topical over recent weeks and months with exposure of and the difficulties that surround James Hardie as a company, and their workers who have been exposed to asbestos over the years. Also, in the Territory with a number of incidents within schools. If anything good has come out of those situations - tragic as it is in the case of the James Hardie workers - it has been the fact that we have heightened awareness around asbestos issues.
There are a large number of buildings in the Northern Territory that contain asbestos. Many buildings built prior to 1990 probably contain elements of asbestos. Government agencies, generally, have handled the issues pretty well. However, we were very concerned with the recent incident where a school’s asbestos register came up short on what was actually found in the building.
To ensure that we are, indeed, implementing world’s best practice, we instituted a review of all of the procedures and handling of asbestos, and the question of asbestos registers held by government. That review is being headed up by David Rolfe within the Chief Minister’s Department, and it contains private industry people represented by the TCA, and the unions represented by the Trades and Labour Council.
We also decided to have an asbestos awareness campaign, and we have brought that forward. I was pleased to launch that campaign at lunchtime. It is multimedia - it will be newspaper, television and radio. A number of brochures and information booklets are to go out with it. These advertisements are tremendous, and I congratulate Media and Marketing in DEET, headed up by Jayne Gray, and Simon Manzie from the production company that worked on these, because it was done very quickly. The ads are terrific and they will run tonight.
They focus on three crucial areas: in schools, contractors and tradespersons, and do-it-yourself renovators. The key messages are to stop, think asbestos, and seek advice. The message is as simple as that, which is what we urge Territorians to do. So, when working on a building constructed before 1990, exactly that: stop, think asbestos, seek advice.
We wish to assure Territorians that asbestos, in its pristine state, is not a health risk if it is in good condition and if it is left undisturbed. However, breaking, drilling or removal of asbestos material can pose serious health risks with the fibres and dust that can occur if safety precautions are not taken.
Efforts are being made to raise awareness in remote areas as well. All schools will receive a kit, all contractors will receive a booklet, and advertising will appear on Imparja Television. A couple of the booklets are information for the do-it-yourself renovator; information for schools; information for trade contractors are part of the awareness campaign. I table those.
In addition, the government has announced a register for recording potential exposure by individuals, which has still to be established, and a regime exists for the registration and use of licensed asbestos removalists.
It is intended that a national code of practice and standards will be in place by July 2005. Registers and the like are necessary. However, the most important thing is for everyone to adopt a change of attitude. That is what will save lives. Until now, you could probably say the attitude has been one that treats a building as if it does not contain asbestos. We want to reverse that attitude. We do not want people to panic, we do not want to scare them, but we do want them to be aware of the potential dangers around asbestos, and they need to think: ‘This might contain asbestos’. If in doubt, seek advice, get it checked out and obtain all the advice on how to proceed.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016