❓ Mr. Love questions the Minister for Industrial Relations about asbestos contamination risks from wind turbine brake pads. The Minister acknowledges the briefing and ongoing investigation at a national level, assessing the risk as currently low but requiring controls for handling.
AnsweredQoN 687Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Asbestos—Wind turbine lift brake pads
687. Mr Shane Love to
the Minister for Industrial Relations:
I have a
supplementary question.
Has the minister personally
been briefed on the particular risk that this asbestos contamination poses to
workers, to the soil and to nearby farms and properties around the wind turbines?
687. Mr Shane Love to
the Minister for Industrial Relations:
I have a
supplementary question.
Has the minister personally
been briefed on the particular risk that this asbestos contamination poses to
workers, to the soil and to nearby farms and properties around the wind turbines?
AnswerView source ↗
We have been given some advice and I was briefed by my
agency yesterday about the situation that the member raised. One of the
issues, in the case of wind turbines, is that we know what turbine or what
manufacturer is involved, so it is not likely that it will cause contamination
outside the enclosed case. Of course, it is still an issue that we are aware
of.
I am advised that a
national working group works closely on issues involving imported asbestos
materials and the issue the member raised has also been raised with that group.
WorkSafe WA is represented on this group and is aware of the issues, as we have
discussed. Further testing is being conducted at a national level and the
results will inform the next steps and actions required. At this stage, risks
are expected to be low, as the material, as I outlined just before, is in
internal machinery within the wind turbine structure. However, controls will
need to be developed for working with or removing the material. The national
group will consider the need to provide advice to industry.
agency yesterday about the situation that the member raised. One of the
issues, in the case of wind turbines, is that we know what turbine or what
manufacturer is involved, so it is not likely that it will cause contamination
outside the enclosed case. Of course, it is still an issue that we are aware
of.
I am advised that a
national working group works closely on issues involving imported asbestos
materials and the issue the member raised has also been raised with that group.
WorkSafe WA is represented on this group and is aware of the issues, as we have
discussed. Further testing is being conducted at a national level and the
results will inform the next steps and actions required. At this stage, risks
are expected to be low, as the material, as I outlined just before, is in
internal machinery within the wind turbine structure. However, controls will
need to be developed for working with or removing the material. The national
group will consider the need to provide advice to industry.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.