Page 183 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 May 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
but at this stage we are absolutely committed to our election promise.
In conclusion, in relation to making our visitors welcome, there is a review being undertaken at the moment in relation to signage, for example. One of the most frustrating things to visitors is getting lost. To describe to a person who is coming to visit you in Tuggeranong how to get there from Dickson is almost impossible. So we will seek to improve road signs to facilitate movement of visitors to the city.
Mr Moore: I rise on a point of order, Mr Speaker. Standing order 118(a) says that the answer to a question without notice "shall be concise and confined to the subject matter of the question". Throughout this session, the Deputy Chief Minister has not taken notice of that standing order.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you for that observation, Mr Moore. I have already brought that to the Minister's attention. We are all in a learning cycle here, and I am sure things will improve.
ASBESTOS REMOVAL
MRS GRASSBY: During question time on 24 May Mr Humphries asked me about the cost of the asbestos removal program. He drew attention to a report in the Canberra "Chronicle", on 16 May, which quoted the general manager of the Asbestos Branch, Dr Keith McKenry, as saying, "There is no evidence to link exposure to asbestos in the Canberra house and medical illnesses".
Mr Humphries asked if the view as quoted was the view of the Government and, if it was, how did the Government justify the expenditure on asbestos removal. Now I would like to give him the correct answer, if he will accept it.
The total cost of the asbestos program is now expected to be in the order of $45m. The quotation in question was not checked with Dr McKenry and he was misquoted - I have rung him. At present, there is no evidence to link asbestos in any Canberra home to any known case of an asbestos related illness. This is not to say, however, that asbestos in Canberra homes is not a health risk. The fact is that asbestos in Canberra does present a health risk - this was recognised by the Commonwealth. However, symptoms may not appear for at least 15 years.
We know that at Wittenoom and elsewhere even very low levels of exposure to asbestos can give rise to asbestos related diseases - sometimes in excess of up to 30 years after the event. As Dr McKenry noted, the asbestos in Canberra houses is pure and is in loose form, which is not good to have but it is much better to have than the other kind, I understand from Dr McKenry.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .