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26 February, 2001The AMWU calls on national body to speed up the phaseout of the use of asbestos.
AUSTRALIA: Doug Cameron, national secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) has called on the National Occupational Health & Safety Commission (NOHSC) to move towards an early phaseout of the importation of asbestos.
In November 2000, a Joint Statement of Agreement was reached in Victoria between employers and the government to phase out the use of asbestos by 2003. "The AMWU urges the NOHSC to follow the leadership shown in Victoria and move to an early phaseout of the importation of asbestos in Australia," said Cameron. "It is a disgrace that the Commission knows the terrible tragedy that asbestos causes, and yet still allows for the importation, manufacture and use of asbestos in Australia."
Australia has one of the world's highest rates of mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining caused by asbestos. The NOHSC itself estimates that 40,000 asbestos-related deaths will occur in the next 20 years.
In November 2000, a Joint Statement of Agreement was reached in Victoria between employers and the government to phase out the use of asbestos by 2003. "The AMWU urges the NOHSC to follow the leadership shown in Victoria and move to an early phaseout of the importation of asbestos in Australia," said Cameron. "It is a disgrace that the Commission knows the terrible tragedy that asbestos causes, and yet still allows for the importation, manufacture and use of asbestos in Australia."
Australia has one of the world's highest rates of mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining caused by asbestos. The NOHSC itself estimates that 40,000 asbestos-related deaths will occur in the next 20 years.