Wednesday, 3 December 2025

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (14:09): (2054) My question for the Minister for Energy and Resources concerns the asbestos found in wind turbines in western Victoria. WorkSafe Victoria has issued a safety alert confirming that imported asbestos-containing brake pads have been found in lift motors and hoists at Victorian wind farms, despite Australia’s longstanding ban on asbestos. The operators now confirm earlier public reports that a brake pad from the Golden Plains wind farm, near Rokewood in western Victoria, has tested positive for white asbestos and that turbines have been quarantined while replacements are arranged. My constituents want to be assured that workers are safe and, given the propensity of these turbines to shed parts, sometimes hundreds of metres distant, that there is no other asbestos present in any part of them. Queensland have announced a full asbestos audit of every wind turbine. What will you do, Minister?