NT Government Taking Action

The Government has formed a special team to oversee an urgent review into the management of asbestos in the Territory. In November 2004 the Minister for Employment, Education and Training, Syd Stirling, announced the Joint Review Team's Terms of Reference. The review is in response to several asbestos-related incidents in recent months.

Review of Government Buildings

The Northern Territory Government has announced a review into the management of asbestos in government buildings and into the provision of public information. Asbestos registers, which are kept in all government schools and some other government buildings, are being audited and updated to ensure their future accuracy. All buildings that currently have registers should have a policy of treating all materials as asbestos containing unless proven otherwise.

The Joint Review Team will oversee the report findings and provide recommendations to government. For further information see the Terms of Reference below.

Terms of Reference

Joint Review Team, Management of Asbestos in Government Buildings and Provision of Public Information

• Determine if the Asbestos Register has accurate records of the occurrence of asbestos building products in schools and, if necessary, recommend on procedures to bring it up to date and to maintain its currency.
  
  
• Determine if the available records about asbestos in other Government buildings (including public housing) are up to date and, if necessary, recommend on ways of improving the management of this information.
  
  
• Advise if the current procedures for handling asbestos in Government buildings are to acceptable national standards and, if necessary, recommend on any improvements needed.
  
  
• Assess current coordination arrangements across Government. If necessary, recommend on ways of improving coordination, including agency responsibility for holding information.
  
  
• Assess if information available to the community, the building and construction industry, and managers and users of Government buildings is up to date, readily and easily available and in a suitable form.
  
  
• Review existing advisory services to the community and the public on how they can deal with issues on their own private property. If necessary recommend on ways to improve these services, noting that a hotline service is available.