THE federal government yesterday held a crisis meeting with Telstra and other stakeholders as the fallout continued from Telstra contractors illegally dumping asbestos.
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Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten said Telstra accepted there had been deficiencies in the management of asbestos during the National Broadband Network roll-out.
Mr Shorten late yesterday announced the federal government would set up a taskforce to monitor the roll-out of the NBN after earlier committing to create an asbestos register agency for anyone who believes they may have been exposed to the deadly particles.
FULL COVERAGE OF ASBESTOS SCANDAL
Today
- Davcom workers tell about poor safety practices
- Black Hill soil yet to be tested for contamination
- More suspicious material discovered by residents
- PM says asbestos scandal Telstra's responsibility
- Yet another skip bin full of asbestos bags found
- Electrical union says Telstra has failed its workers
- Allegations of 80 truckloads of contaminated soil
- Asbestos scare for Ballarat family after NBN work
- Another asbestos dumping site discovered in city
The announcement came as The Courier yesterday revealed another area in Sebastopol where bags full of asbestos had been left by Telstra contractors in a rubbish skip.
\WorkSafe Victoria are investigating several incidents in Ballarat, including a skip full of uncovered asbestos bags in Melbourne Road.
A large dirt pile at Black Hill is also under investigation and could be contaminated with asbestos.
It is believed the federal government will discuss setting up a compensation fund for residents and workers potentially exposed to asbestos during the roll-out.
Mr Shorten said the government was aiming to make Australia “a world leader in the handling and eradication of asbestos”.
“There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos and nothing less than removal is acceptable,” he said.
The legislation establishing a national asbestos agency was expected to pass the lower house of parliament yesterday.
Law firm Maurice Blackburn is calling on people who believe they may have been exposed to asbestos around Telstra’s work on the National Broadband Network to register their exposure.
The law firm says there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, but not everyone goes on to develop an asbestos-related disease.
patrick.byrne@fairfaxmedia.com.au
