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| Issue No 82 |  |
20 December 2000 |
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NewsDying Workers' Asbestos PleaBy Deborah Vallance
Asbestos support groups, doctors, lawyers and asbestos removal industry workers paid their respects to the thousands of Australians who have suffered and died as a result of exposure to asbestos.
People gathered this week to lay a wreath and bereavement cards at Mr. Peter Reiths doorstep. Less than three weeks ago Minister Reith and his department turned their backs on community demands to ban asbestos. Instead of taking decisive action by supporting a Victorian government and industry to phase out the importation of raw asbestos, Minister Reith has chosen procrastination, delay and obfuscation. They now hope new workplace relations minister Tony Abbott takes are more proactive approach to the issue. One of those at the wreath laying was Mr. Geoff Foster who has contacted mesothelioma from working with asbestos. " Too many people have died from contact with asbestos already. And Mr. Reith has a responsibility to prevent further deaths by supporting the ban on the importation of asbestos" Mr. Foster said. 1700 tonnes of raw asbestos and over one million parts containing asbestos are imported annually into Australia. These are predominately used in brakes and clutches, even though there are alternatives. The groups are asking people to send cards to Mr.Abbott at Parliament House, Canberra with the following inscription To the Hon. Mr. Tony Abbott, on behalf of everyone who has died and will die of asbestos related disease. Ban Asbestos ............ signed.
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   Interview: Being Michael CostaLabor Council�s secretary on the 2KY sell-off, the Olympics and his plans for the future. Unions: Millennial MilestonesIn a year of highs, some trade union stories stuck in the collective consciousness. Here's ten of the best. International: Eric Lee's Year in ReviewThe editor of Labourstart looks back on the global issues that mobilized labour in the past 12 months. Organising: Dispatches from the FieldDespite the 'Botsmanesque' critiques which have been levelled at Organising, it would be hard to deny that the year 2000 has seen more and more unions in NSW latch onto the approach - at least in principle anyway. Economics: Who Gets Gold??At the end of this Olympic year, Sydney Uni's Frank Stilwell charts the winners and losers in the new sport of redistribution of income. Politics: Election 2000: The Winner is GridlockIn the last in his series on the US Federal Election Campaign, Michael Gadiel, our roving reporter, gladly signs off. Satire: Chaser Launches BookIn the great tradition of repackaging old material to cash in on Christmas, the team from The Chaser & Silly 2000 has produced its first book. Review: Cultural WastelandThe spotlight was on Australian culture in 2000. But was it a missed opportunity, asks Peter Zangari.
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