In 2013, the Australian Government established the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency, the only national government authority in the world dedicated to reducing the risk of asbestos exposure and eliminating asbestos-related diseases.
The Asbestos National Strategic Plan (the ANSP) provides a long-term, phased approach to eliminating asbestos-related diseases in Australia through nationally consistent and coordinated actions. It ensures that all levels of government work cooperatively towards a common goal.
Now in its third phase for 2024-2030, the ANSP has 3 main aims:
to eliminate asbestos-related diseases in Australia
to support workers and others who are affected by asbestos-related diseases, and
to be an international leader in securing a worldwide ban on the production and trade of asbestos.
Phase 3 of the ANSP focuses more on the proactive removal of asbestos in Australia’s built environment, instead of managing the ageing materials ‘in situ’ as has been the case for decades now.