Unionists and anti-asbestos campaigners have marked International Workers Memorial Day by protesting outside the Canadian Consulate in central Sydney, calling on the country to halt the manufacture and export of asbestos.


The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia (ADFA) said Canada's export of asbestos sheeting to south-east Asian countries was irresponsible.


Anti-asbestos campaigner Bernie Banton said he would be among a delegation that would meet the Canadian consul-general later today.

"Canada is one of the few countries left that still exports asbestos," Mr Banton said.

"Asbestos can't be used in Canada but they're making millions out of exporting it to third world countries and it's just obscene and it needs to stop now."

Mr Banton said on International Workers Memorial Day, his thoughts were with the families of his colleagues from building material company James Hardie who had died from asbestos-related diseases.

"When I worked at James Hardie there were 137 of us, there's just nine of us left and my brother was one of those who died because of the asbestos situation.

"That's why it's just vital today that we get this message through to the Canadian Consulate that Canada needs to stop the export of asbestos because it kills."

Source: Australian News.com