Paul Bastian, State Secretary of the AMWU, which was at the forefront of the campaign against James Hardie, has written to the Canadian Consul General, calling for a ban on any further exports of asbestos, particularly to impoverished developing nations. (letter attached)
Paul Bastian said that the Canadian asbestos industry had demonstrated the worst excesses of corporate greed by targeting countries such as Thailand and its neighbours, which are still struggling to house hundreds of thousands of tragic victims of the Christmas Tsunami.
"Asbestos sheeting has been banned in western countries. But is being sold to the impoverished peoples of South East Asia as a cheap way to provide housing for their families," said Mr Bastian.
"In Australia we know that the short term fix provided by cheap asbestos sheeting can result in misery and death for anyone exposed to its deadly fibres, particularly during building work.
"While Canada can proudly claim to be at the forefront in many areas of social and economic responsibility, it is certainly a very dark stain on the country’s reputation that the Canadian asbestos industry, supported by their Government, has been aggressively targeting the world’s most vulnerable people for its poisonous products.
"It’s high time to end export of the deadliest workplace hazard ever. We are calling for the banning of all asbestos exports," said Mr Bastian.
Facts About Asbestos
A conservative estimate is that asbestos accounts for more than 100,000 deaths world wide every year.
Australia has the world’s highest death rate from mesothelioma, yet asbestos is expanding in many markets, especially in developing countries.
The Canadian Consular web site claims that its Sydney office specialises in trade issues. The current Canadian Consul General, Tom MacDonald was Director General of the Canadian Export Permits Bureau, Head of Canada’s trade Mission to the EU, Director for GATT Affairs, Chief NAFTA Negotiator and the Canadian Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development Canada is one of the top 3 asbestos exporting countries in the world, producing more than 250,000 metric tons in 2003.
More than 95% of Canadian produced asbestos is exported The Canadian Govt has a specific policy to target South East Asia as an export target.
Intense lobbying by the asbestos industry, led by Canadian exporters has caused the delay of bans on asbestos imports, which were planned for introduction in South East Asian at the beginning of 2004.
The Canadian Government knows the risks of exposure to asbestos, and has imposed very strict occupational health and safety regulations that limit the exposure of Canadian workers.
The developing and impoverished nations of South East Asia, however:
(a) Do not have clear information about the dangers of working with asbestos products
(b) Do not have good OH&S regulations
(c) Do not have good industry controls
(d) Do not collect statistics on asbestos diseases
(e) Have no compensation system or social security for victims of asbestos diseases