Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to talk about the Turnbull government's determination to protect the nation from the silent killer that is asbestos. The member for Hinkler talked about tradespeople, of which I was one, and I did have significant exposure to asbestos dust. It is very much on my mind, as they say, that asbestosis has about a 30-year incubation period and I am reaching that 30 years, virtually to the day. So I am very cognisant of the dangers of asbestos.

One of the unwanted legacies of the 20th century building boom was asbestos. There has been innocent exposure which has resulted in complex health problems for many thousands of Australians later in life. The people at greatest risk of developing an asbestos related disease are those that frequently undertake repairs, renovations and other work which can generate the release of asbestos fibres into the air. The one thing that is not addressed by many people when they talk about asbestos, particularly in my own home state of Queensland, is that hundreds of thousands of homes contain asbestos. Hundreds of thousands of homes, not just in Queensland but across this country, contain asbestos.

That is not to take anything away from the significance or the risk of asbestos, but one needs to put it in context. Every home and every building built before 2003 contained asbestos. Breathing in asbestos fibres has been linked to three asbestos related diseases—asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer—all of which can be fatal. Asbestos related diseases take time to develop. They usually emerge at least 10 years after exposure but can sometimes take up to as long as 50 years. There are no current cures for these diseases.

It is for this reason that the Australian government is serious about maintaining tight controls on products containing asbestos coming into this country. Australia is strongly committed to a coordinated national approach to dealing with asbestos. It is, in fact, a global leader in asbestos control and one of only a few countries that has had a total ban on asbestos since 2003.

In accordance with our commitment, in August 2015 the government released the National strategic plan for asbestos management and awareness 2014-18. Endorsed by all state and territory governments, the plan has, for the first time, secured a coordinated national approach among Commonwealth, state and territory governments for dealing with asbestos.

Since its establishment on 1 July 2015, the Australian Border Force has been our first line of defence in preventing goods that pose a risk of containing asbestos from coming into the country. We can assure the nation that this increased level of intensity will be maintained. The Australian Border Force works proactively with a range of federal, state and territory authorities to address concerns about the importation of asbestos. This multilayered approach includes education, campaigns and outreach activities.

Additionally, the ABF is working with relevant Chinese government bodies to enhance cooperation on the asbestos border control. The ABF uses profiles and alerts to target specific goods, countries of origin, suppliers and importers of concern. The ABF constantly refines this targeting activity based on intelligence received. The ABF undertakes interception and intervention activities targeting high-risk building products, which may result in testing and seizure of these goods. Unlike illegal firearms and other prohibited items, asbestos cannot be detected through X-ray screening or other detection and examination capabilities deployed at the border.

The Labor Party's record on this is poor. (Time expired)

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