Australian Mesothelioma Registry launched
On 30th April 2010 The Hon Julia Gillard MP officially launched the new Australian Mesothelioma Registry which will be managed by a consortium led by the Cancer Institute NSW and including some of the leading experts in asbestos related disease in 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.
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