Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation) Share this | Hansard source

I believe in the prioritised removal of asbestos because in some cases it will become airborne. Some of the places which have asbestos in them, such as the Telstra pits which the member for Dawson has kindly brought to my attention, could contain asbestos. These pits will get tampered with over time. There are pipes and ducts which will get tampered with—as they will in people's own residential houses.

What we need to do—and what I am pleased that Telstra did at a meeting convened by myself and the Minister for Communications—is that we want to make sure that where asbestos has to be removed where we come into contact with asbestos it is done safely. That is why what is clear in recent weeks and months, and the member for Dawson's question to me taken at face value reinforces the importance of what this government is doing, is that we need to make sure that there is safe handling where people come into contact with it. So I will follow up your matter and I will give you a report on it, and it is not acceptable.

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