Thursday, 23 February 2023

Asbestos Council of Victoria

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (09:59): I want to give a shout-out today to the Gippsland Asbestos Related Diseases Support group and to the tireless work of people who have been part of that organisation in raising and advocating for greater awareness of the risks of asbestos and the challenges faced by people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma over the years. We have come a long way in our scientific and medical understanding of the impacts of exposure to asbestos. We have seen all too tragically the outcomes of exposure and failures to provide adequate and safe systems of work. It was people like Bernie Banton who fought tirelessly for recognition of the impact of asbestos, even while he was dying with mesothelioma. It is therefore important that we recognise the work that is happening on the ground within our communities.

When I think about the work of GARDS and of the Asbestos Council of Victoria, I note that in recent discussion about silicosis the work needs to continue. Manufactured stone and exposure to manufactured stone dust whilst being processed, particularly in a booming DIY and housing and new build development, is something that we need to continue to be aware of and to work on. We need to learn the lessons of mesothelioma, the lessons taught by people like the late, great Bernie Banton and others, and make sure that the efforts of organisations such as ACV and GARDS continue to be supported.