Australian Mesothelioma Registry launched
On 30th April 2010 The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, officially launched the new Australian Mesothelioma Registry which will be managed by a consortium led by the Cancer Institute New South Wales and including some of the leading experts in asbestos related disease in Australia.
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The Hon. Julia Gillard and NSW Premier Kristina Keneally at the launch of the AMR.
Photo courtesy: Safe Work Australia
The Australian Mesothelioma Registry will replace the Australian Mesothelioma Register which has been operating since 1985. It will collect all notifications of new cases of mesothelioma from the state and territory cancer registries and detailed information on the past exposure to asbestos of mesothelioma patients.
The new Australian Mesothelioma Registry will collect more detailed and accurate information on mesothelioma and related asbestos exposure than has been possible in the past.
Mr Tom Phillips, Safe Work Australia Chair, said that due to the long latency between exposure to asbestos and the onset of the disease, it has been estimated that the incidence of mesothelioma will not peak until after 2010.
“It is important that we track progress of this disease caused by Australia’s high use of asbestos in the past. Through the collection of more detailed information, the new Registry will provide important information on the types and levels of exposure to asbestos that typically result in mesothelioma.
“This extra information will aid Safe Work Australia and the Australian Government to develop policies for best dealing with the legacy of asbestos in our buildings and other infrastructure”, said Mr Phillips.
The Cancer Institute NSW, which operates the NSW Cancer Registry, will be responsible for managing the project.
The Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health will be responsible for collecting information from consenting patients diagnosed with mesothelioma on their occupational and residential history and past exposure to asbestos. Other members of the consortium will provide scientific and medical advice.
Notification of new cases of mesothelioma to the Registry and the collection of information on asbestos exposure will begin in July 2010.