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

I think it is a little hash of the member opposite to say that I do not pay attention to his questions; I do. In terms of asbestos and the issues which he has raised, let me say again—and I will keep saying it, because it is an important opportunity to remind members of the opposition who have shown a new-found interest in asbestos, asbestosis and mesothelioma—that asbestos is a giant scourge. Last night on Lateline the member for Wentworth accused the government of trying to create a panic. I tell you what: when we know that nearly 700 people a year are dying from asbestos related diseases and that another 30,000 to 40,000 people will die of asbestosis, to not take the issue, not talk about it and not deal with the concerns raised by the residents of Penrith is not appropriate.

Let us look at the history of asbestos, because it goes to the wafer-thin propositions being advanced by the member for Wentworth, which are that somehow this government has not been doing enough about asbestosis and the dangers of asbestos. Let us have a little bit of history. First of all, the Telstra pipes and the Telstra ducts, which contain asbestos, have been rolled out over many, many years. Telstra and the Postmaster-General knew this. In fact, I must put on record a positive comment that the member for Wentworth's father-in-law, an eminent barrister, represented very ably victims of asbestos exposure on the waterfront. So these issues and the dangers of asbestos were well known.

We also know that certain corporate organisations such as James Hardie and, indeed, CSR chose to cover up and deny the risks of asbestos for many years. It was not so long ago that former opposition leader Mark Latham had to shame those opposite into handing back Hardie's donations. He had to shame them into doing it. The dangers of asbestos have been well known and for a very long time in Telstra. Indeed, it was well known to the opposition when they were in government. The late member for Calare, Peter Andren, raised with the then government and the then minister for communications on notice issues identical to the questions which I raised in 2009. At that stage, I think it was the then minister for agriculture in the House of Representatives, on behalf of the minister for communications, who said that Telstra had asbestos in its system, in some of its pits and in some of its ducts. So the sort of startling smoking-gun revelation that somehow it has only been of late that some of the dangers of asbestos have been revealed is not fair and not accurate.

Mr Turnbull interjecting—

You will get your chance, Mal. Sorry. I don't mean to upset that glass jaw of yours. We were aware in 2001 of the need for Telstra to create a separate fund, and indeed it was the Leader of the Opposition, then as a minister, who said, 'No, we won't.' Again, in 2007, it was the Leader of the Opposition, who was the minister for health at that stage, who would not support the PBS being varied to include drugs which would help alleviate the suffering of victims of asbestosis and mesothelioma. Indeed, when the late Bernie Banton, the great warrior on the issue of asbestos, came forward, he was personally vilified by the now Leader of the Opposition.

We dial forward to now. It is correct that, even as the parliamentary secretary for disabilities, I maintained a strong interest in health and safety—reflecting knowledge, though, which both sides of the House already had. I certainly did contact Telstra a number of times, because people in Tasmania were saying to me that they were concerned about this process. Telstra came back not once, not twice but three times and said that they had it under control. This, I have to say, contrasts with the lack of interest of those opposite, who, despite knowing the issues, have not bothered to put them forward. I have not heard in this debate any reference to those—

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 11 : 44 to 11:57

As I was saying, asbestos is a deadly serious issue and requires a serious approach. Telstra had advised the government—and they had been in contact with Comcare—that they had procedures for the rollout in terms of their responsibilities on asbestos. The CEO confirmed this at the end of 2009.

What is also clear is that in the last few weeks there have been a number of incidents which show, in my opinion, a breach of the standards we would expect in terms of the remediation of asbestos lined pits, which have been involved in the roll-out of new telecommunications. It is clear to me, from speaking to residents and others, that Telstra needs to lift its standards. That is what we are doing with a new national register. That is what we are doing with a task force oversighting Telstra. And Telstra has given stronger commitments than ever before.

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