2023 marks 20 years since asbestos was banned in Australia, but campaigners warn that there’s still a huge amount of asbestos out there making people sick.

As this week is National Asbestos Awareness week, Australian renovation queen Cherie Barber had a yarn with Koori Radio’s Lola Forester about asbestos and its risks both short and long term.

“It can lurk in places you’d never expect,” Cherie explained.

“I have to try and get the message out there that we want people to renovate, but we want everyone to renovate their homes or live in properties that contain asbestos to do so safely,” she said.

Cherie gave an in-depth description of the many places, internally and externally asbestos can be detected.

They include roof linings, bathrooms, toilets, laundries, and even the insulation on hot water pipes and in concrete as filler. 

“If you are exposed to asbestos and you inhale the fibres, you’re at a great risk of developing diseases like mesothelioma,” Cherie said.

Cherie said that if you are exposed to asbestos, or if you’re after more information you can visit www.asbestosawareness.com.au and follow through to their article called ‘Absestos 101’. 

Tune into Blackchat on Koori Radio 93.7 FM or on the Koori Radio app every weekday morning from 0900am – 1200pm AEDT.