Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I move general business notice of motion No. 289, I ask that the name of Senator Ayres be added to the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senator Ayres, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans,

  (ii) according to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 125 million people around the world continue to be exposed to asbestos at work, including in Australia's neighbours in the Asia-Pacific, and the most efficient way to eliminate asbestos-related diseases is to stop the use of all types of asbestos,

  (iii) Australia is a founding member of the Asian Development Bank,

  (iv) the Asian Development Bank's Safeguard Policy prohibits investments that include the 'production of trade in or use of unbonded asbestos fibres', however, this does not apply to the purchase and use of bonded asbestos cement sheeting where the asbestos content is less than 20% – this in effect is an exemption for almost all bonded asbestos-containing materials used in the construction sector, and

  (v) Union Aid Abroad–Australian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad (APHEDA) and their partners in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia have been at the forefront of work to ban asbestos through the 'Asbestos. Not Here. Not Anywhere' campaign;

(b) congratulates Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA and their local partners for their work in campaigning to ban asbestos in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia; and

(c) calls on the Federal Government to lobby for a change in policy to end the use of asbestos in Asian Development Bank financed projects.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia has raised concerns with the ADB at senior levels about the use of asbestos-containing material. DFAT's Environmental and social safeguard policy on managing asbestos risk states that Australia promotes global efforts to ban the use of asbestos, calling for the application of international good-practice approaches to the management of asbestos hazards. It also seeks to improve awareness of asbestos risk, provide safety alternatives and support the phase-out of asbestos-containing material. In 2020, the ADB is expected to commence a review of its 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement. Australia will use this opportunity to further lobby for a prohibition on the use of any asbestos-containing materials in ADB financed projects.

Question agreed to.