Households affected by Canberra's deadly Mr Fluffy asbestos crisis will receive immediate financial assistance from the ACT government including payments of up to $10,000, with an additional $2000 for each dependent child.
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ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher announced details of a government assistance package to homeowners on Thursday, saying the payments would cover the cost of emergency accommodation as well as food, clothing and remediation works.
An additional $1000 payment will support the replacement of contaminated household items such as clothes which have to be destroyed, including for families who do not need to vacate their homes.
Ms Gallagher said counselling services would be provided and the government would meet the costs of asbestos assessments for Mr Fluffy homes.
She said residential rates would be deferred for the period in which owners have had to vacate their homes.
Already 398 people have registered with the government after being affected, including tradespeople and relatives. Further assessments are expected to take months.
The deadly loose-fill asbestos was spread throughout more than 70 Canberra suburbs by the Mr Fluffy company in the 1970s, with homes in Curtin, Pearce and Kambah most heavily affected.
More than 1000 homes had the product pumped into roof and wall spaces, with many missed by a $100 million federal government-funded removal program in the 1980s and '90s.
"We will be arranging for the bulk purchase of asbestos assessments for those homes," Ms Gallagher said.
"We think this will take a bit of pressure off homeowners and it will also give us the information we need about the current state of all of those homes."
Ms Gallagher said the government's response would continue over months or years. She will appeal for the federal government to join the response in a meeting with federal Minister for Regional Development Jamie Briggs on Tuesday.
"We also need to make sure we are looking after people’s emotional wellbeing. This is one of the stresses that has been brought to my attention by residents … this issue landing in their laps without any previous knowledge."
Gap fees for visits to doctors or specialists will also be covered by the government for families registered with the special asbestos task force, established last week. That body will oversee the assessment of affected homes.
More than 30 Mr Fluffy homes have been discovered in Fisher, Farrer, Holder, Lyons, Torrens and Weston, while houses in Chapman, Duffy, Flynn, Hackett, Melba and Rivett are also affected.
Homes in Belconnen, Weston Creek, Tuggeranong, Gungahlin, O'Malley, Red Hill, Forrest, Tharwa and Fyshwick are also caught up in the crisis.
Last week the government announced new requirements for all workers who might be exposed to asbestos to complete training by September 30. About 12,000 workers in more than 64 different occupations will be required to undertake the training.
Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson welcomed the assistance package on Thursday.
“I will continue to liaise with affected householders and the Mr Fluffy Owners and Residents’ Action Group to make sure they are receiving the support they need," he said.
“The government can expect the Canberra Liberals’ bipartisan support on this issue.”
Ms Gallagher said a letter would be sent to all households next week and she would meet with representatives of the Mr Fluffy Owners and Resident's Action Group on Sunday.
NSW Premier Mike Baird and ACT regional mayors have been updated on the developments. Ms Gallagher said there was evidence of Mr Fluffy asbestos being present in homes in Queanbeyan, the NSW south coast and Riverina areas.
A spokeswoman for the resident's group will respond to the assistance package on Thursday.
