Aboriginal kids `played with asbestos`

Asbestos can be found in some remote indigenous communities in the Northern
Territory almost a year after it was brought to the attention of the federal
government.
It was reported on Friday that children had been playing with the cancer-causing
material at Areyonga, southwest of Alice Springs.
"If this situation happened in a main city like Canberra, Sydney or Melbourne, this
problem would have been dealt with within 24 hours," said resident Craig Woods.
"The government knows about this problem and yet they're not dealing with it."
A spokeswoman for federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin conceded the
government was aware that asbestos material was still on the ground in some bush
communities.
"It is understandable that communities and parents are concerned about asbestos even
if it does not currently pose a high health risk," she said.
In May last year, intervention workers reported widespread evidence of asbestos.
Surveys of the communities were then conducted in October and January, with asbestos
discovered in 45 of the 50 tested at the time.
Tests have since been conducted in all 73 Aboriginal communities acquired by the
federal government as part of the measures to combat child sex abuse.
"After being made aware of the presence of high-risk asbestos in some indigenous
communities, the Australian government ordered a comprehensive survey," the
spokeswoman said.
"The survey identified three communities which had material which contained asbestos
that was considered an immediate health risk. That material was quickly removed."
The spokeswoman said the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and
Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) was now working with the Northern Territory government
on a plan "to remove all material containing asbestos which is damaged or in poor
condition".
But it is not soon enough for elders at Areyonga.
They say no steps have been made to remove the toxic material, which comes from
demolished houses.
"Because of our remoteness, you know, we can be ignored," Mr Woods told ABC Radio.
Although the community was now aware of the dangers of asbestos, which can cause
cancer and breathing problems, Mr Wood said children had in the past played with the
material.
"There's a few forms of asbestos and one of them definitely looks like a chalk," he
said.
"Kids like to draw with things so asbestos looked like a chalk to them and they did
their drawings and played with the asbestos not knowing that it was a poison."
Ms Macklin's spokeswoman said the federal government understood the community's
concerns.
"The minister has requested FaHCSIA to ensure senior government officials work with
the Areyonga community to provide information and help address their concerns," she
said.