Cambodian construction workers
Mr TAK (Clarinda) (09:57): I was delighted to host friends from APHEDA and the Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia here in Parliament this week. Asbestos has been completely banned in Australia since December 2003; however, 20 years later it is estimated asbestos-related disease still contributes to some 4000 deaths in Australia each year. Sixty-seven countries have banned asbestos, but in South-East Asia asbestos continues to be widely used in construction materials, such as roofs and wall sheeting. For workers and communities in these countries the fatal legacy of this toxic material will be felt for decades to come. Thank you to Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA Cambodian country manager Mr Veasna Noun; Mr Sok Kin, president of the Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia; and the Cambodian Ban Asbestos Network, who joined us to speak about the challenges to achieving a ban in Cambodia, the work that is being done and the role Australia is playing. Together with the federal member for Bruce, I was fortunate to meet with some of the BWTUC members and delegates during a visit to Cambodia back in 2019 to hear about the campaign and challenges for freedom of association in Cambodia. I look forward to working together towards better outcomes for workers in Cambodia and Victoria.