At the second Asbestos Summit held in Sydney today, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Bill Shorten announced the Government's response to the comprehensive Asbestos Management Review (commissioned in October 2010). "Today, the Australian Government declares its commitment to establishing an Office of Asbestos Safety which will be tasked with developing a national strategic plan as recommended by the Review, by 1 July 2013," Mr. Shorten said.
"Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos related disease in the world. Our response to this Review represents our best chance to work together to eliminate asbestos-related disease in Australia."The creation of the Office of Asbestos Safety is a vital first step in that process. It will set out a road map for improving our handling of asbestos and look at the practicalities of implementing the recommendations of the Review."
Mr Bill Shorten
Mr. Shorten also announced a number of research projects on management and awareness of asbestos will commence in advance of the agency's establishment. The research will include examining current infrastructure for the disposal of asbestos products, and a comprehensive study of community awareness of and attitudes to asbestos.
"This research will underpin the future work of the office, and provide them with a head start on what I anticipate will be a considerable workload. The research that will be undertaken is consistent with the recommendations made by the review and will inform the priorities of the agency," Mr. Shorten said.
