Over 700 Australians were diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2017—equating to 2 cases diagnosed per day—according to the latest data released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The report, Mesothelioma in Australia, is the first report on the subject since the AIHW took over management of the Australian Mesothelioma Registry (AMR) in 2017.
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer in the mesothelium—the protective lining on the inside of body cavities and the outside of internal organs, such as the lungs, heart and bowel. Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer, and its primary cause is exposure to asbestos.
‘Before being banned in Australia in 2004, asbestos was used in more than 3,000 products in the construction industry, in industrial plants and equipment, and in ships, trains and cars,’ said AIHW spokesperson Dr Lynelle Moon.
A large amount of asbestos still remains in buildings and other infrastructure, and thousands of different products containing asbestos are still in use today.
Dr Moon said that Australia has one of the highest incidence rates of mesothelioma in the world, with between 700 and 800 people diagnosed each year.
‘In 2017, 710 Australians were diagnosed with mesothelioma, with most cases—592—among men,’ she said.
‘This is largely due to the higher proportion of males working in industries where asbestos exposure may have occurred in the past, such as construction.’
Of the people with mesothelioma who provided details of their occupations and residence since the AMR was established in 2010, 93% were considered to have experienced some level of exposure to asbestos during their lives. For men, most exposure was considered to be occupational, while for most females it was non-occupational (such as exposure while living in a house where asbestos was present).
Among states and territories for which data was available, the rate of mesothelioma was highest in Western Australia, with 4.9 cases diagnosed for every 100,000 people. It was lowest in Tasmania, at 1.5 cases per 100,000 people.
While the AMR has only been in operation since July 2010, the AIHW has been able to bring together other data sources (such as national cancer incidence data) to give longer-term insights into this issue in Australia. These data shows a marked increase in the number of new cases of mesothelioma, rising from 157 cases in 1982. To date, the highest overall number of new cases was in 2014, with 770 cases reported.
‘This rise could be due to a number of factors such as increased awareness and improvements in diagnosis. Further, Australia used asbestos extensively until the mid-1970s, and mesothelioma has a delayed onset of 20-30 years from exposure,’
‘Sadly, mesothelioma has a very poor prognosis. It is often diagnosed once it has reached the advanced stages, as early symptoms can go unnoticed or be mistaken as symptoms for other, less serious conditions,’ Dr Moon said.
Mesothelioma survival rates are very low and this has not changed over time.
‘Since the mid-1980s, the 5-year relative survival rate for mesothelioma has averaged 5.4%. For comparison, the 5-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined was 69% in 2010-2014,’ Dr Moon said.
The average time between diagnosis and death is around 11 months according to analysis of all mesothelioma diagnoses and deaths recorded in the Australian Mesothelioma Registry (AMR).
The report was produced in collaboration with the Monash University Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health and an expert advisory group, including representatives from the Bernie Banton Foundation. The Australian Mesothelioma Registry is funded by Safe Work Australia.
APRA announces Terms of Reference for enforcement strategy review
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) today announced Terms of Reference for a review of its enforcement strategy.
The Review will be led by APRA Deputy Chair John Lonsdale, supported by APRA staff and external advisers as necessary. Mr Lonsdale will be assisted by an independent advisory panel of experts in the administration of law and regulatory enforcement. The panel comprises former NSW Supreme Court Judge Dr Robert Austin, ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court and Professor Dimity Kingsford Smith, holder of the Minter Ellison Chair in Risk and Regulation at UNSW Law, and the Director of the Centre for Law Markets and Regulation, UNSW.
Mr Lonsdale said the review will examine APRA’s current enforcement strategy and infrastructure and how it interacts with APRA’s core supervisory approach.
“The review will be a forward-looking examination of APRA’s approach to the use of its enforcement powers to ensure that financial promises made by supervised institutions are met within a stable, efficient and competitive financial system.
“APRA has taken a range of supervisory actions over many years but it is timely to examine whether APRA’s traditional approach – prioritising prevention and rectification – can be augmented by greater enforcement activity. This review presents an opportunity for APRA to strengthen further its supervisory toolkit and reinforce sound prudential outcomes,” Mr Lonsdale said.
APRA established the enforcement review in recognition both of new regulatory responsibilities under the Banking Executive Accounting Regime, as well as case studies examined by the Royal Commission.
The final Review will be presented to APRA Members by 31 March 2019. Following consideration of the Review’s recommendations, APRA expects to release publicly both the final review and APRA’s enforcement strategy.
Mr Lonsdale said the review will examine APRA’s current enforcement strategy and infrastructure and how it interacts with APRA’s core supervisory approach.
“The review will be a forward-looking examination of APRA’s approach to the use of its enforcement powers to ensure that financial promises made by supervised institutions are met within a stable, efficient and competitive financial system.
“APRA has taken a range of supervisory actions over many years but it is timely to examine whether APRA’s traditional approach – prioritising prevention and rectification – can be augmented by greater enforcement activity. This review presents an opportunity for APRA to strengthen further its supervisory toolkit and reinforce sound prudential outcomes,” Mr Lonsdale said.
APRA established the enforcement review in recognition both of new regulatory responsibilities under the Banking Executive Accounting Regime, as well as case studies examined by the Royal Commission.
The final Review will be presented to APRA Members by 31 March 2019. Following consideration of the Review’s recommendations, APRA expects to release publicly both the final review and APRA’s enforcement strategy.
Terms of Reference – Review of APRA’s approach to enforcement
Scope
1. The Review will conduct a forward-looking examination of APRA’s approach to the use of enforcement to achieve its prudential objective of ensuring that financial promises made by its supervised institutions are met within a stable, efficient and competitive financial system (the Review).
2. The Review will examine APRA’s current enforcement strategy and infrastructure, and in particular, how it interacts with APRA’s core supervisory approach. It will assess any legal, practical or structural impediments to APRA taking enforcement action where such action is appropriate.
3. The Review will make recommendations on:
a) the breadth of issues APRA seeks to address through public and non-public enforcement action;
b) the considerations in determining when APRA should take enforcement action to hold entities and individuals to account, including under the Bank Executive Accountability Regime (BEAR) and other powers;
c) the considerations in determining whether and when it may be appropriate for APRA to take public enforcement action, including litigation, to achieve general deterrence effects in appropriate cases; and
d) APRA’s internal governance, organisation, enforcement strategy, resourcing and any other factors relevant to APRA’s enforcement function.
Areas of focus
4. In examining the issues set out above, the Review will focus on:
a) the relationship between APRA’s supervisory approach and enforcement action;
b) APRA’s process for identifying candidate enforcement actions;
c) APRA’s decision-making process on whether to take enforcement action;
d) APRA’s approach to breach reporting and whistle-blowers;
e) the weight given to factors (including but not limited to cost, timeliness, remediation, precedential value) in determining whether to take enforcement action;
f) APRA’s approach to publicly disclosing enforcement priority areas;
g) whether internal organisational change would be required to achieve an appropriate level of enforcement action;
h) whether the resources and skill sets currently within APRA are adequate to achieve an appropriate level of enforcement action;
i) whether there is greater need for APRA to more closely cooperate with other regulatory agencies when dealing with enforcement-related matters;
j) whether the current and proposed legislative framework is adequate to support the recommended approach; and
k) any other relevant matters agreed by the APRA Members from time to time.
Timing
5. Draft recommendations will be available to APRA Members by 28 February 2019 with the final Review to be presented to the APRA Members by 31 March 2019.
Governance
6. The Review will be conducted by APRA Deputy Chair John Lonsdale and supported by APRA staff and external advisors as necessary. The APRA Members will be regularly informed on progress over the course of the review.
7. An external advisory panel comprising Dr Robert Austin (Former NSW Supreme Court Judge), Commissioner Sarah Court (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) and Professor Dimity Kingsford Smith (Director of the Centre for Law, Markets and Regulation, University of New South Wales) has been appointed to provide an expert perspective on matters arising from the Review.
Appointments to the Future Fund Board of Guardians
The Coalition Government has reappointed the Hon Peter Costello AC as Chairman of the Future Fund Board of Guardians, as well as reappointed John Poynton AO and appointed John Fraser as members.
They join Ms Carolyn Kay, Dr Jane Wilson, Ms Erin Flaherty and Mr Michael Wachtel on the Board of Guardians.
Mr Costello was first appointed as a member of the Future Fund Board of Guardians in 2009 and as Chair in February 2014. Over that period, the value of Future Fund investments has grown from $67.6 billion to $148.8 billion or around 120 per cent. Prior to his appointment, Mr Costello served Australia with distinction as our longest serving Federal Treasurer from 1996 to 2007. As Treasurer, he delivered 10 Budget surpluses and oversaw the establishment of the Future Fund in 2006.
Mr Poynton brings more than 40 years of experience in the financial services industry to the Future Fund Board. He is currently Chair of Jindalee Partners P/L, a Non-Executive Director of Burswood Limited (Crown Perth), Chair of Strike Energy Limited and Executive Chair of Sabien Cyber Limited. Mr Poynton also previously served as a Director of the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation, a member of the Higher Education Endowment Fund Advisory Board and a member of the Payment Systems Board of the RBA.
Both Mr Costello and Mr Poynton will be reappointed to their respective positions for a period of five years from 4 February 2019.
The Government has also appointed Mr John Fraser to the Future Fund Board of Guardians for a period of five years from 12 November 2018. Mr Fraser was previously the Secretary to the Department of the Treasury for three-and-a-half years. In this role, he was also Chair of the Global Infrastructure Hub, a member of the Reserve Bank of Australia Board and a member of the Board of the Australian Council of Financial Regulators. He has also previously served as Chair and CEO of UBS Global Asset Management in London, for more than a decade. Mr Fraser has substantial experience and expertise at the highest levels of corporate business and public service. He has significant expertise in the management of investments in financial assets and corporate governance.
All three appointees will make a valuable contribution to the Future Fund Board.
Free Public Transport for NSW School Kids
No matter where you live or where you’re traveling, day or night, training, footy, school – public transport will be free for kids on the Opal network.
This is something we are doing for the families of NSW to help with cost of living pressures.
This is something we are doing for the families of NSW to help with cost of living pressures.
Labor’s Fair Fares: Under a Daley Labor Government, your kids will get to travel on public transport for free.
Man charged over carjacking – Newcastle
A man has been charged over a carjacking in Newcastle on Friday.
About 1.15am (Friday 9 November 2018), four men who are known to each other were in a Holden Commodore on Hansen Place, Shortland, when the driver stopped and got out of the vehicle.
A 27-year-old man in the passenger seat was then allegedly threatened with a knife by the two other passengers.
The man was forced from the vehicle by the two men, who then drove it from the scene. No injuries were suffered.
Police from Newcastle City Police District commenced an investigation.
About 7pm yesterday (Saturday 10 November 2018), a 23-year-old man was arrested at Speers Point.
He was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with aggravated robbery, possess prohibited drug and disqualified driving.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Sunday 11 November 2018).
Inquiries continue to locate the second offender.
Victoria CBD Stabbings Terror Related
A stabbing incident in the CBD this afternoon that has left one person deceased is being treated as terror related at this stage.
Emergency services responded to reports of a car fire in Bourke Street about 4.10pm.
As police officers got out of their vehicle, they were confronted by a male who began a physical altercation with them.
The man fled on foot and was chased by police, he then lunged at police with a knife.
Police shot the 30-year-old and he was taken to hospital in a critical condition but he has since died.
The man was known to Victoria Police and federal intelligence authorities by way of his family associations.
Three men were stabbed during the incident.
One man, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene.
A 24-year-old and a 58-year-old have been taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
A police officer was treated for a minor injury at the scene.
The Bomb Response Unit attended and have deemed the burnt vehicle safe and a crime scene has been set up.
Road blocks in the area are expected to remain in place throughout the night and members of the public are asked to avoid the area on Bourke Street between Russell and Swanston Streets.
Counter Terrorism Command in conjunction with the Homicide Squad will investigate the incident but police do not perceive any ongoing threats at this stage.
There will be an increased police presence around the CBD and at major events in the coming days so the public can feel comfortable going about their business.
If members of the public have images or video footage that may assist police with their investigation into the incident, they are encouraged to upload them here → https://vpupload.fotoware.com.au/
Anyone with information is also urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Members of the public who witnessed the event and wish to make a statement are asked to attend Melbourne West Police Station at 313 Spencer Street, Melbourne.
Man charged with high-range PCA – Belmont
A man has allegedly been caught drink-driving more than five times the legal limit in Belmont yesterday.
Police will allege a man was refused entry about 2.15pm (Friday 9 November 2018), to a licensed premises on the Pacific Highway, Belmont, before he left the area in a Subaru station wagon.
Hotel staff notified police and officers from the Lake Macquarie Highway Patrol Command observed the vehicle a short time later in a carpark on Macquarie Street, Belmont.
After a conversation with the man, he returned a positive reading to a roadside breath test and was arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station.
He underwent a breath analysis and returned an alleged reading of 0.263.
The 34-year-old man was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for the offence of high-range PCA and is due to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 5 December 2018.
Dried cannabis and plants seized – Broadmeadow
Investigations are continuing after a large amount of dried cannabis leaf and 12 cannabis plants were seized from a home in Newcastle.
About 11:15am yesterday (Friday 9 November 2018), officers from Newcastle City Police District executed a search warrant at a house on Teralba Road, Broadmeadow.
During the search, officers located and seized 12 cannabis plants, over 21kg of dried cannabis, a quantity of steroids, ketamine and a large quantity of hydroponic equipment.
No persons were found in the home.
A crime scene was established, and police identified unmetered power sources being used in the operation.
Investigations have commenced, and inquiries continue.
Man charged with intimidation and fraud offences after fundraising scheme complaint – Lake Macquarie PD
A man will face court next month after being charged with fraud and intimidation offences in the Lake Macquarie area.
Police from Lake Macquarie Police District received a complaint about a fundraising scheme established in July 2018 to benefit drought-stricken farmers.
A donation event was held to raise money and collect goods at a park near Newcastle.
Following the event, police will allege a member involved in the scheme attempted to speak to the organiser about the expenditure of funds and was intimidated.
It will also be alleged personal items were purchased with some of the money raised.
During the course of the investigation, a senior constable was allegedly harassed.
Following inquiries, about 8am today (Friday 9 November 2018), detectives attended a home on Fourth Street, Boolaroo, and arrested a 36-year-old man after he attempted to flee.
He was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with seven offences including dishonestly obtain property by deception (x3), stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm, intimidate police officer in execution of duty, obtain personal information about officer, and resist officer in execution of duty.
The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 5 December 2018.
Investigations are ongoing.
Vic Bourke Street Incident Possibly Terrorism Related
Police are currently at an incident on Bourke Street in the Melbourne CBD. Police 
initially responded to a report of a car on fire near the corner of Swanston Street about 4.20pm. A man was arrested at the scene and has been taken to hospital under police guard in a critical condition. Police are not looking for anyone further at this early stage. A small number of people are being treated for stab wounds.
The exact circumstances are yet to be determined at this stage. The area has been cordoned off and the public are urged to avoid the area. Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to go to Melbourne West Police Station to make a statement. We will provide further information when it comes to hand.