Since being diagnosed with mesothelioma six years ago, Serafina Salucci has lost a lung and endured several rounds of radiotherapy.
Earlier this week she partnered with Australia’s biggest unions in their efforts to push state and federal governments to finance and implement all recommendations made by Asbestos Management Review Comittee (AMRC).
Salucci believes a national awareness campaign can put a stop to others experiencing the tribulations she has experienced.
“The reason why public awareness and education is so important is the fact that there is no cure for mesothelioma,” she told reporters on Wednesday.
“Once you’ve got it, that’s pretty much it.”
Living with an asbestos-related disease has “been hell“ Salucci said.
“You can’t put it into words what it’s been like and what it’s done to my life and how difficult it’s been.”
The Australian Manufacturer Workers’ Union (AMWU) and Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) recently launched a campaign to compel the federal government to “address the deadly threat of asbestos that is still present in many older homes, government and commercial buildings”.
The unions released a joint statement saying that Australia has highest per capita rate of asbestos-related disease, two thirds of houses built between the 1940’s and 1983 still contain asbestos.
“It’s time for the Australian government to implement a strategy to effectively tackle the threat of asbestos,” AMWU National Secretary Paul Bastian said.
“That means the recommendations from the Asbestos Management Review Committee need to be implemented and fully funded to eradicate asbestos from our environment by 2030.”
Mr Bastian predicts that asbestos-related deaths will continue to increase for the next seven years.
“This is why we need to establish a dedicated National Asbestos Authority, and a national set of laws.”
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Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/16129409/unions-seek-end-to-asbestos-danger/
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