Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Communications and Broadband) Share this | Hansard source

I am very disappointed that despite my generosity in encouraging the minister to speak for twice as long, he was unable to answer the question—nor would the minister for workplace relations answer it. The question was this: is the government saying that undisturbed, intact, non-friable asbestos-containing material should not be left in situ—as is the practice at Telstra; as indeed is contemplated in the national codes—but rather should be proactively removed, notwithstanding that this carries, as the national code I read from earlier, risks of contamination?

This is a very serious point. That is why I said at the outset that I do not want to have a slanging match with the minister opposite. I do not want to get into ancient history. I want to get some clarity on this very important point. I will leave that with the minister. I would just respond to the honourable member from the north coast.

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