Page 724 - Week 02 - Thursday, 10 March 2011
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accurately defined. I am not sure that helps any of us, but Mrs Dunne’s speech I think went to those points.
The Dangerous Substances Act 2004 is designed to protect the health and safety of both workers and members of our community, and to protect property and the environment from risks associated with all dangerous substances. Those substances range from commonly known dangerous goods such as explosives to asbestos and other carcinogens. To ensure that the act remains an effective means of regulating these chemicals, from time to time it will require amendment to ensure that it is up to date.
After receiving a request from the commonwealth to review this matter, I did initiate an urgent review to ascertain whether the Dangerous Substances Act required amendment. I am advised that the definition presently set out in chapter 3A of the Dangerous Substances Act does not strictly use the new terms recommended. As such, it may inadvertently capture minerals that do not contain asbestos, as well as products made from those minerals.
In 2005, the ACT Asbestos Task Force report handed down recommendations on the extent and impact of asbestos in the territory. That report led to the preparation of an education and awareness campaign and presented the government with a practical, cost-effective and balanced approach to managing the health risks posed by asbestos. The government agreed, or agreed in principle, to all 25 task force recommendations contained in the report. Since 2005, the Dangerous Substances Act 2004 and related laws have been amended to implement key aspects of that response.
In February 2010, the government established an independent review of the ACT asbestos management strategy and the recommendations handed down from the task force report. The independent reviewer was asked to inquire into the effectiveness of current management and regulation and to recommend any measures to improve asbestos management. That review has also reported to the government on progress in implementing the response to the task force report, on the effectiveness of the law, and of education and health strategies.
The review has identified a number of new challenges, such as ensuring that those frameworks for formal, systemic information sharing and coordination are put in place across government. The review has also confirmed that there is ongoing need for community awareness and education to reinforce key safety messages and to ensure that the Dangerous Substances Act and related laws in relation to asbestos safety are well understood and obeyed.
The community will substantially benefit from the introduction of this legislation. As the national leader with respect to asbestos regulation to date, the government remains strongly committed to ensuring that legislation in this area is as robust and as effective as possible. Our commitment is reflected in the bill, which ensures that legislation protecting the territory community from dangerous substances remains effective and up to date. I commend the bill to the Assembly. I thank those officers that have worked hard on this bill and other members for their contribution to the debate.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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