Media release: New Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency CEO

Media release

The Australian Government has today announced the appointment of Ms Justine Ross as Chief Executive Officer of the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency.

Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation, Craig Laundy, congratulated Ms Ross on her appointment.

"Her extensive experience in Work Health and Safety policy and law will stand her in good stead to lead this important agency,” Minister Laundy said.

For the past seven years, Ms Ross has worked at the Department of Jobs and Small Business, formerly Employment, in a range of legal and WHS roles at the senior executive level. Previously, she has worked at Safe Work Australia, where she played an instrumental role working with the states and territories, unions and industry in developing the model work health and safety laws.

Ms Ross has been a Safe Work Australia member and a Commissioner on the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission. She has a Masters in Occupational Health and Safety from the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization and Turin University and is admitted as a legal practitioner in the ACT.

Minister Laundy thanked Mr Peter Tighe, the outgoing Chief Executive Officer, for his work in establishing the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency and the first National Strategic Plan on Asbestos Management and Awareness.

"I commend Peter Tighe for his commitment to the agency’s important work, building awareness and delivering long-term solutions to tackling the scourge of asbestos," Minister Laundy said.

"The ongoing legacy of asbestos in our workplaces and communities presents a difficult challenge, and the reality is that there are no easy fixes to this insidious problem."

Minister Laundy said he looked forward to Ms Ross continuing to provide strong leadership and national coordination of asbestos management and awareness.

The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency was established in 2013 to provide a national focus on asbestos issues. Its key responsibilities include coordinating, monitoring and reporting on the National Strategic Plan on Asbestos Management and Awareness to ensure there is a nationally coordinated approach to managing asbestos safety, and providing advice to the Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency is an independent statutory office holder established under the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Act 2013.

Source: https://ministers.jobs.gov.au/laundy/new-asbestos-safety-and-eradication-agency-ceo