01:54 pm, Wednesday 24 February, 2010

The Tasmanian Government has vowed to exert more effort in battling asbestos.

Tasmania’s Workplace Relations Minister Lisa Singh made an election pledge to set aside $200,000 yearly for setting up a specialised Asbestos Unit within Workplace Standards Tasmania.

Yesterday’s promise comes a month after an Asbestos Steering Committee recommended major revisions on asbestos policy.

“It’s not just expensive it’s complex, it’s a complex problem,” Ms Singh said.

The unit would be tasked to supervise asbestos removal. However, Ms Singh did not specify if the fund would cover the regional inspectors’ wages.

The Greens say the asbestos issue should have been acted upon years. They are proposing a more expensive action.

Greens Leader Nick McKim says they are looking at $10 million to be earmarked for asbestos removal from schools alone.

“I don’t think Labor can even fund three specialised asbestos inspectors in the regions of Tasmania for $200,000 a year,” Mr McKim said.

“I mean these people are going to need wages, they’re going to need computers, they’re going to need cars.”

He favors a specialised unit but it would take millions of dollars to remove asbestos from schools, homes and businesses.

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