Page 1933 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 5 August 2014
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Another tangible outcome that has come out of the cooperation is that Canberrans can now easily and specifically register any potential exposure they may have had to loose-fill asbestos through the National Asbestos Exposure Register. The register, managed by the commonwealth’s Asbestos Safety Response and Eradication Agency, records details of people who think they may have been exposed to materials containing asbestos. Previously this register only listed fields to report general exposure to asbestos in the home or the workplace.
I also welcome the engagement of the New South Wales government. I have written to both former Premier O’Farrell and Premier Baird and discussed the issue with Minister Dom Perrottet by phone. We have seen a growing engagement between respective officials and the ACT government, and my commitment to Minister Perrottet was the willingness to share our knowledge with New South Wales counterparts.
Similarly, we are working with Queanbeyan and other affected councils to assist them in their responses. I have written to all SEROC mayors explaining the situation in the ACT and again providing information and access to the task force for our regional neighbours. Through the task force the government is sharing information with these other jurisdictions in the hope that we can lead a solution for all people affected by Mr Fluffy, regardless of where they live.
I have said publicly on a number of occasions that I want this issue to be resolved once and for all. I do not want a future government to be in the position we are in today—wishing the problem had been fixed in the way we wish the original remediation program designed by the commonwealth had fixed it in 1989. Since the task force was established in June, the priority has been making contact with current residents of affected homes, delivering the ACT government’s emergency support package and arranging asbestos assessments on affected homes.
The task force has also been engaging with experts nationally and internationally to provide advice to the ACT government on long-term strategies to render affected homes safe. I expect to receive this advice soon and will use it as the basis of further discussions with the commonwealth. The ACT government will be guided by this expert advice as well as the evidence we are currently gathering about levels of contamination by loose-fill asbestos of the living areas of affected homes.
Madam Speaker, I take this opportunity to acknowledge the bipartisan support we have received in pursuing a lasting solution to Mr Fluffy’s legacy. I welcome the opportunity to work with the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Hanson, in a very genuine way to make sure we are addressing the needs of the home owners affected by Mr Fluffy and I appreciate very much his support. Also, I refer to the leadership of Minister Corbell for raising the issue within cabinet and for making sure that, as our state of knowledge has grown, the government’s response has grown commensurately with that information.
I welcome and acknowledge the intervention of all ACT federal parliamentarians on behalf of the people of the ACT. I look forward to continuing to work with
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