Chief Executive Officer - year in review

The 2016–17 year has been another significant year of operations for the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency with the completion of a number of major projects and paving the way for the review of the National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Management and Awareness 2014–18 during the 2017–18 year.

Through 2016–17, the agency continued to work diligently in building the evidence, practical information and processes to support the objectives of the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Act 2013 (ASEA Act) and the goals, deliverables and outcomes in the National Strategic Plan. I’d like to thank agency staff and the members of the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Council for their hard work and commitment in the successful delivery of the plan over the year.

The key achievements of the agency for 2016–17 include:

  • the agency building a significant body of research that will provide a solid base for future direction over the next two years and to guide the review of the National Strategic Plan in 2018
  • delivering another successful International Conference on Asbestos Awareness and Management, held in Adelaide in November 2016, which saw over 350 delegates, guest speakers and a range of stakeholders convene to discuss local and international issues regarding asbestos awareness and management
  • working closely with asbestos-related disease organisations through providing secretariat and other assistance to the Asbestos Support Group Network
  • international leadership in commencing dialogue with the Government of Cambodia in working towards the development of National Asbestos Profile and a national ban on the production and use of asbestos-containing products.

The Australian Government has continued to express the importance of dealing with the legacy issues relating to asbestos and its impact on the community. I am confident the agency will continue to deliver the objectives of the ASEA Act and the National Strategic Plan to address these issues and reduce the impact of asbestos-related diseases in Australia.

I look forward to working with the agency staff, council, the Australian Government and all stakeholders in further coordinating the National Strategic Plan during the coming year and the development of a new National Strategic Plan to implement beyond 2018.

Peter Tighe
Chief Executive Officer