An Australian asbestos victims advocacy group is urging the government of New South Wales to take the initiative to clean up an abandoned white asbestos mine in the town of Barraba, which, they believe, poses a significant health hazard to those who live in the area.

The Asbestos Disease Foundation believes the government “owes it to the community” to clean up the mine, says a story aired by the Australian Broadcast Company. However, the Department of Primary Industries says the asbestos tailings left at the site pose no danger to the public. Barry Robson, president of the Asbestos Disease Foundation, disagrees.

“It’s only been 20 years, roughly 20 odd years since that mine closed,” he said. “It takes 20, 30, 40 years to come out, the disease. So for people to say it’s not dangerous or there’s been no health problems associated with this mine, well let’s see down the track.”

Even some politicians believe the government has taken the “band-aid approach” to addressing concerns about the mine.

“Successive state governments put enormous amounts of money into keeping the mine going when it was operating. Now it’s been closed for 25 years, there’s a clear obligation to secure the safety of the community,” says Peter Draper, parliamentary member from Tamworth.

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