BEATTIE GOVT TO INDEMNIFY LOCAL COUNCILS ON ASBESTOS
Published Wednesday, 25 October, 2006 at 02:17 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Local Government, Planning and Sport
The Honourable Andrew Fraser
The Beattie Government will indemnify local councils to enforce the safe disposal and handling of asbestos in Queensland homes.
Premier Peter Beattie, Health Minister Stephen Robertson and Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser today announced the State Government’s decision to underwrite councils’ activities regarding asbestos in private homes and provide local governments with a legal indemnity.
“Asbestos is a hazardous material that presents a risk to public health,” Mr Beattie said.
“It is likely to be present in homes built between 1945 and 1985 in some form such as asbestos-cement sheets.
“While the State Government has had responsibility for asbestos in the workplace for some time, we recognise the handling of asbestos in non-workplace settings such as homes also needs to be properly regulated.
“It is particularly necessary today with the rise of ‘do it yourself’ home renovation and we are committed to measures that will protect the health of home renovators, their families and their neighbours.
“That is why State Parliament last year passed legislation clarifying the roles and responsibilities of authorities in dealing with asbestos issues.
“Under the Public Health Act 2005 and the proposed associated Regulation, local councils have responsibility for public health risks relating to asbestos in homes, where the amount of asbestos involved is less than 10 square metres.
“The Act is scheduled to take full effect on 1 March next year.
“The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has identified a lack of commercially available insurance to cover councils for public liability and professional indemnity risks arising from their role in enforcing asbestos provisions in the Act.
“After considering various options, State Cabinet determined the most effective way of overcoming this hurdle was to offer local government a State indemnity.”
Mr Fraser said the arrangement would be in place for all councils for five years, with further market analysis to be undertaken at the end of the agreement.
“I urge the LGAQ and councils to accept this offer and work with the State to ensure all Queenslanders are smart about handling asbestos materials at work and at home.
”I acknowledge this been a difficult issue to work through, but this is a big breakthrough and deals with a key concern of local government about asbestos regulation.
“We all have a part to play and today we are demonstrating our commitment to addressing this issue.
“I also emphasise that the State Government is responsible for all cases where the amount of material involved is more than 10 square metres, will provide the resources to promote awareness of the regime and will fund a public hotline for enquiries.”
Mr Robertson said: “Queensland Health is funding a $700,000 multi-media public awareness campaign to educate the community about safely handling and disposing of asbestos which will kick off early next year.
“The State Government is also playing an active role in supporting local governments with the new legislations and regulations.
“Depending on the circumstances, a council officer may need to take action against negligent home owners.
“This could include issuing a public health order for the unlawful work to cease until appropriate work practices are in place, requiring licensed asbestos removalists be engaged to undertake the work or issuing a penalty infringement notice for serious or repeated breaches,” he said.
Wednesday, 25 October 2006
Media contact: Premier’s office: 3224 4500
Minister Robertson’s office: 3234 1185
Minister Fraser’s office: 3227 8825
Premier Peter Beattie, Health Minister Stephen Robertson and Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser today announced the State Government’s decision to underwrite councils’ activities regarding asbestos in private homes and provide local governments with a legal indemnity.
“Asbestos is a hazardous material that presents a risk to public health,” Mr Beattie said.
“It is likely to be present in homes built between 1945 and 1985 in some form such as asbestos-cement sheets.
“While the State Government has had responsibility for asbestos in the workplace for some time, we recognise the handling of asbestos in non-workplace settings such as homes also needs to be properly regulated.
“It is particularly necessary today with the rise of ‘do it yourself’ home renovation and we are committed to measures that will protect the health of home renovators, their families and their neighbours.
“That is why State Parliament last year passed legislation clarifying the roles and responsibilities of authorities in dealing with asbestos issues.
“Under the Public Health Act 2005 and the proposed associated Regulation, local councils have responsibility for public health risks relating to asbestos in homes, where the amount of asbestos involved is less than 10 square metres.
“The Act is scheduled to take full effect on 1 March next year.
“The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has identified a lack of commercially available insurance to cover councils for public liability and professional indemnity risks arising from their role in enforcing asbestos provisions in the Act.
“After considering various options, State Cabinet determined the most effective way of overcoming this hurdle was to offer local government a State indemnity.”
Mr Fraser said the arrangement would be in place for all councils for five years, with further market analysis to be undertaken at the end of the agreement.
“I urge the LGAQ and councils to accept this offer and work with the State to ensure all Queenslanders are smart about handling asbestos materials at work and at home.
”I acknowledge this been a difficult issue to work through, but this is a big breakthrough and deals with a key concern of local government about asbestos regulation.
“We all have a part to play and today we are demonstrating our commitment to addressing this issue.
“I also emphasise that the State Government is responsible for all cases where the amount of material involved is more than 10 square metres, will provide the resources to promote awareness of the regime and will fund a public hotline for enquiries.”
Mr Robertson said: “Queensland Health is funding a $700,000 multi-media public awareness campaign to educate the community about safely handling and disposing of asbestos which will kick off early next year.
“The State Government is also playing an active role in supporting local governments with the new legislations and regulations.
“Depending on the circumstances, a council officer may need to take action against negligent home owners.
“This could include issuing a public health order for the unlawful work to cease until appropriate work practices are in place, requiring licensed asbestos removalists be engaged to undertake the work or issuing a penalty infringement notice for serious or repeated breaches,” he said.
Wednesday, 25 October 2006
Media contact: Premier’s office: 3224 4500
Minister Robertson’s office: 3234 1185
Minister Fraser’s office: 3227 8825