The deal, signed in 1991, acknowledged that it may become necessary to deal with properties missed in the clean-up or "remove additional asbestos from properties previously subject to the program".

If that happened, all costs would be borne according to a formula: the ACT government pays the first $10 million, the second $10 million is shared half and half and after that the Commonwealth pays two-thirds, $2 for every $1 spent by the territory.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher released the memorandum of understanding after a request from The Canberra Times on Friday, saying while it wasn't a legal document it put a moral obligation on the federal government.

"We think the framework is there in the MOU to certainly morally have the Commonwealth at the table," she said.

''And we can't let that go. I just don’t think we can accept that the Commonwealth might not come and help. I really don’t see that as a choice for the Commonwealth either, and I think that the documentation we have would support that."

The MOU was signed in June 1991.

Also on Friday, Canberra’s clubs set up a fund to help people caught up in the crisis. The peak group, Clubs ACT, contributed $10,000 to kick-start the fund. Chief executive Jeff House said clubs had already offered accommodation for families.

He called on corporate Canberra to help. Mr House has set up a register of clubs and for anyone else prepared to help with accommodation, money, food or goods and services. “If you’re a hotel, motel or serviced apartment we want to hear from you,” he said. “If you’re a restaurant and can offer some cheap meals, we want to hear from you. If you’re a cinema and can offer up some free tickets, we want to hear from you.”

Ms Gallagher unveiled a support package for families this week, including up to $10,000 plus $2000 for each dependent child for families forced out of their homes by the discovery of asbestos fibres left over from the clean-up carried out between 1988 and 1993.

Rates will be deferred while families are out of their homes. The residents' support group knows of 10 families in that category, with more expected to come to light as homes are tested.

Ms Gallagher also announced up to $1000 for families still in their homes who have had to destroy household items contaminated with asbestos. People in Mr Fluffy homes would be eligible for help with medical bills and the cost of asbestos testing.

Ms Gallagher said no figure had been put on the package, which was "a little open-ended", and which she expected would amount to "several hundred thousand dollars". It would be paid for through the treasurer's advance and if more became necessary through a new appropriation.

By mid afternoon on Friday, 512 people had registered with the new taskforce, most of them homeowners, but also tenants and tradespeople.

A taskforce spokeswoman said the money would be allocated on a case-by-case basis, based on need, with taskforce head Andrew Kefford taking a "flexible approach". It was still being decided whether receipts would be required, or statutory declarations, for money spent.

Mr Kefford would write next week to homeowners who have yet to make contact. A decision has not been made on whether the letter would go via registered post, the spokeswoman said, with some of the February letters thought to have gone astray.

Ms Gallagher and Liberal Leader Jeremy Hanson will meet the federal minister responsible for territories, Jamie Briggs, on Tuesday in what will be the first political-level discussion on the crisis. Ms Gallagher said she expected to get a sense of the federal government's thinking on the longer-term problem – what to do with the homes abandoned by their owners and other houses that might still contain asbestos.

She acknowledged again that houses might need to be demolished. "If we get to the point where the agreed expert advice is that the houses can't be remediated, then we will have to take some decisions," she said. "We don’t have that advice yet, but that may be where it ends up."