WORKERS FACE A SLOW PAINFUL DEATH BY BUREAUCRACY

Construction workers are demanding answers at a major defence project in the northern suburbs following revelations of asbestos contamination and the improper disposal of asbestos and other dangerous materials. CFMEU SA Secretary Martin O’Malley says workers are utterly outraged by the shonky and downright dangerous behaviour at the Salisbury/Elizabeth site, and frustrated by bureaucratic buck-passing.

The Defence department is building houses and other infrastructure for an extra 1200 personnel and their families in Adelaide’s north.  As part of the process asbestos has been discovered. It’s also possible there’s other contamination such as diesel, cadmium, lead and perhaps other toxic heavy metals.

Mr O’Malley has been told that building contractors have been given the OK by the SA Environment Protection Authority to simply dig 3 big holes to bury the waste, instead of disposing of it properly like other contractors must.

“There are reasons that tough standards exist for the disposal of asbestos – because it’s a lethal product. Government research shows that asbestosis and related diseases are already on the increase in South Australia and will continue to rise for the next ten years. Yet here we have these cowboys planning to construct a fence, dig a few holes and shove in the waste - to be covered up as a car park and hidden for someone else to sort out in the future,” Mr O’Malley says

“This is a killer issue for the local community – I’m a Salisbury resident and I don’t want to see my family and friends put at risk.”

“The fact is that proper management of asbestos and other highly hazardous materials doesn’t suddenly become irrelevant depending on who owns the land. Standards are standards, and should be applied consistently and in the best interests of workers and the community. Asbestos should be properly disposed of at proscribed disposal facilities. We’ve checked the Defence Department’s rights for exemptions, and while it applies to certain issues it cannot justify burying asbestos and possibly other dangerous materials in the middle of a community. This project involves a huge amount of waste and it must be properly dealt with.”

“This is a scandal and the proper authorities – whoever they are - must fix it immediately,” Mr O’Malley says.