Politics in the Club Canberra

Lisa Chesters MP, CFMEU ACT Secretary Dean Hall and Samantha Bond from APHEDA

On the 22 March, Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA ran a social event in Canberra to raise awareness among local unionists of the Asbestos. Not Here, Not Anywhere campaign. Supported and hosted by the CFMEU ACT Branch, our first Politics in the Club was a great success. APHEDA was delighted that Lisa Chesters MP, Federal Member for Bendigo and Assistant Shadow Minister for Workplace Relations agreed to be on the panel along with CFMEU Secretary in the ACT, Dean Hall and APHEDA Senior Organiser Samantha Bond.

Politics in the Club drew in union and community leaders as well as long-time local APHEDA activists to talk about local, regional and global concerns around asbestos in the community and workplace.

Each panelist provided a ten-minute overview of the current dangers of Asbestos locally and internationally and the rest of the session was opened to Q&A from the audience. Lisa Chesters MP drove home the fact that less than 5% of building products coming into Australia are tested for asbestos while Dean Hall gave an overview of the importance of asbestos training for apprentices and how training has led to at least two recent instances of asbestos being identified in the ACT. Samantha Bond talked about the battles being fought against asbestos overseas and how Asia has become a dumping ground for the deadly dust. Robust discussion ensued and some great suggestions for collaboration around training and information sharing were proposed for future work through unions, policy and global solidarity.

The ACT APHEDA Activist group is revitalising and seeking to run more awareness raising and fundraising events this year and beyond. Stay tuned for more activity in the ACT!

Thanks to all who attended and much gratitude to the CFMEU for providing the venue at Dickson Tradies Club plus snacks and drinks to keep everyone fed and watered for a great night out in Canberra.