Letter To The Editor - Asbestos

Dear Editor,

Australians have always had a deep-seated love for renovating—it’s part of our national identity. But today, more than ever, financial pressures and the rising costs of living are pushing everyday Aussies to take the reins and tackle DIY renovations themselves.

With tradespeople in short supply and call-out fees soaring, more people and families are rolling up their sleeves, trying to make ends meet by turning their renovation dreams into reality.

While this Aussie “can-do” spirit is something to celebrate, it’s also a cause for grave concern. Thousands of Australians are unknowingly exposing themselves and their loved ones to the deadly risk of asbestos poisoning, hidden in homes built or renovated before 1990.

Every year, asbestos-related diseases claim the lives of around 4,000 Australians - twice the national road toll.

We see national road and TV campaigns telling us that speed kills and to slow down, yet why does the government not invest the same sort of funding to the asbestos message, when it kills twice as many more?

Asbestos deaths are heartbreaking, not only for their scale but also because they’re entirely preventable.

The problem is, asbestos was widely used in over 3,000 building and decorator products — hidden beneath carpets, under tiles, inside walls, ceilings, roofs, and even backyard structures like dog kennels, fences and buried in concrete paths.

Home renovators jackhammer up their garden paths, not knowing asbestos may be in that concrete.

The risk is, when disturbed, asbestos fibres become airborne and can be inhaled, leading to diseases that may not appear until 20 to 40 years later.

This Asbestos Awareness Month, as more and more Aussies turn to DIYing themselves to save money, we need to sound the alarm louder than ever.

As someone who has seen firsthand the devastating impact of asbestos exposure - losing my grandfather to it - I’m deeply committed to helping Aussies stay safe.

The fact is, asbestos is the grim reaper of home renovations, and it doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care if you’re trying to save money, make your home look prettier or safer for your family.

Before picking up the tools or ripping out your old bathroom or kitchen, I urge all Australians to stop and think.

Educate yourselves first. Watch the Asbestos in Homes: A Guide to Identification, Testing and Removal Video – a 20-minute investment that could save your life.

Visit asbestosawareness.com.au to learn how to identify, test and safely manage asbestos. And please, leave the removal to licensed asbestos professionals.

While it’s tempting to save money and time by doing it all yourself, the risk simply isn’t worth it. Our health and the safety of our loved ones should always come first.

Australia’s love affair with renovation is as strong as ever, and it’s heart-warming to see so many of us taking pride in our homes. But let’s not turn a dream renovation into a lifelong tragedy.

Media such as you, has the power, means and reach to spread this message, reminding us all to pause, plan and put safety first when renovating our homes to which I truly appreciate your support.

The message is: Don’t cut it! Don’t drill it! Don’t drop it! Don’t sand it! Don’t saw it! Don’t scrape it! Don’t scrub it! Don’t dismantle it! Don’t tip it! Don’t waterblast it! Don’t demolish it! Don’t dump it!

And whatever you do... DON’T remove it yourself!

Always get licensed asbestos professionals in and visit asbestosawareness.com.au because it’s not worth the risk!

Together, we can ensure that no Aussie or their family has to face the preventable heartbreak of asbestos poisoning.

Let’s make every renovation safe, smart, and something to be proud of.

With appreciation,
Cherie Barber
TV Personality, Australia’s Renovation Queen™ and National Asbestos Awareness Ambassador

• Topics:

• Letters To Editor
• My House My Home
• Health & Fitness