In response to the rising cases of mesothelioma, the
Australian Government is set to invest more than $10.5 million to mobilize a
national campaign in an effort to protect everyone from asbestos-related
diseases, revealed Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten
last Tuesday.
In an interview, Shortin said, “Asbestos is a cruel,
indiscriminate killer, and because of its widespread use over much of the 20th
century, it remains a persistent threat to Australians.”
The aggressive campaign against mesothelioma cancer was launched
after more 600 Australians died from mesothelioma in 2010. “For every death attributed to
mesothelioma, it’s estimated two further people die from lung cancer caused by
exposure to asbestos,” Shortin explained.
“Over the next 20 years, up to 40,000 Australians are
expected to be diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease. There are children
not yet born who’ll die of an asbestos-related disease,” he added.
