ASBESTOS SAFETY DISPLAY

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:59): My question is to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Can the minister inform the house about the asbestos safety display at the recent Adelaide Home & Gardening Show?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:59): I thank the member for his question. I recognise that the Hon. Gerry Kandelaars was a very good trade union official for quite a number of years for his organisation.

From Friday 14 October to Sunday 16 October, the South Australian Asbestos Coalition, in conjunction with SafeWork SA, presented a display of asbestos awareness in the home at the Adelaide Home & Gardening Show which was held at the Adelaide Showground. The home show display provided expert advice to home renovators on what to look for and how to manage asbestos should they identify it on their properties. A recent study published by the Medical Journal of Australia found that home renovations are causing an alarming surge in asbestos-related disease in Australia, especially among women. It is findings like this that highlight the importance of an initiative such as the Asbestos Awareness in the Home display presented by the South Australian Asbestos Coalition and SafeWork SA.

The display was staffed by members of the South Australian Asbestos Coalition which has representation from unions, research bodies, medical groups, victims associations, the asbestos removal industry, SafeWork SA and WorkCover SA. SafeWork SA occupational health and safety inspectors answered questions and provided advice and information to increase public knowledge about the dangers of asbestos. A number of free publications were also made available at the display, including SafeWork SA's publications Asbestos and the Home Renovator and Asbestos in the Workplace.

The South Australian government remains committed to asbestos safety. We have introduced important changes to the law and have raised community awareness through public forums, workshops and the provision of informed material. Through SafeWork SA, and with the guidance of the Asbestos Advisory Committee, the government has coordinated the Asbestos Safety Action Plan, which aims to reduce illness and disease caused by exposure to asbestos and provides a comprehensive community-wide plan of attack for the identification, management and safe removal of asbestos.

The plan represents the government's ongoing commitment to building asbestos safety awareness in the workplace and in the community. I will be releasing the third progress report of the Asbestos Safety Action Plan, which details progress for each of the five strategy areas (communication, education, partnerships, interventions and research) identified in the plan, during Asbestos Awareness Week which is held from 21 November to 25 November.