Communicating about asbestos risk can be challenging. Practical guidance has been developed to help ensure that information communicated to the Australian public is clear, consistent and evidence based.

It is estimated that more than 40,000 km of asbestos-cement water and sewer pipes remain in the ground across Australia. Installed between the 1920s and 1980s, these asbestos-cement pipes are reaching the end of their usable lifespan, requiring maintenance or replacement.

The laws for landlords of residential property regarding asbestos are different across Australia. Landlords must ensure that work carried out at their property is done safely. A body corporate must ensure that asbestos risk in common areas is minimised.

Although asbestos occurs naturally in some parts of Australia, land can also become contaminated with asbestos waste. Under environment protection laws everyone has a duty not to pollute the environment or to unlawfully dispose of asbestos waste.

Fires, floods, storms and cyclones can damage asbestos materials, increasing the risk of asbestos exposure.

If there’s an incident involving asbestos, you could be held responsible for clean-up and compensation costs. This may affect the cost and coverage of your insurance if you own a property that contains asbestos or if you carry out work involving asbestos.

Asbestos is group of naturally occurring minerals known to cause cancer and other diseases.