Options for government supported incentives for proactive asbestos removal

Date created: Date modified: 24 Jan 2025

A key objective of the Asbestos National Strategic Plan 2024-2030 (ANSP) is to eliminate asbestos-related disease by increasing the rate of safe, legal asbestos removal from the built environment. The ANSP notes that asbestos materials are ageing and degrading, increasing the risk that harmful fibres are released. It includes an action for governments to develop incentives that encourage the safe removal of ACMs from residential and commercial properties. 

To support the implementation of this action, ASSEA researched various types of incentive schemes used in Australia and overseas, considered their advantages and disadvantages and how they could be used to encourage proactive asbestos removal. 

The information provided in this report aims to help governments plan and develop specific incentives or leverage existing programs to encourage proactive asbestos removal, subject to conducting their own risk assessments, stakeholder consultation and cost-benefit analyses. The report acknowledges that asbestos removal incentive schemes carry risks of causing further harm or creating unintended consequences if they are not designed and implemented effectively, e.g., higher removal costs or removal being carried out unsafely.  

Behavioural insights research to test financial incentives

To further support the design and implementation of incentive schemes, ASSEA partnered with the Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government (BETA) to explore which financial incentives and amounts would encourage homeowners to proactively remove asbestos from their properties. The findings from BETA’s research is available here.