Asbestos information for local government

Advice to help local governments manage asbestos exposure risks for both residents in their local government area (LGA) and workers in council workplaces.
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Role of councils

Local councils play an important role in managing asbestos risks and keeping the community safe. Because asbestos is a highly sensitive topic that can raise public concern, it is important to provide clear, accurate, and consistent communication about potential risks and facts and figures.

Councils are often the first point of contact for asbestos-related enquiries. They should provide current and accurate information to residents, ensure safe practices for workers and contractors and direct the community to trusted resources from the state and national regulators. For example, the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency, the Department of Health and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER).

Reporting asbestos contamination

Councils must promptly report any known or suspected asbestos contamination to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) which can provide advice on disposal options.

A licensed asbestos assessor should then confirm the risk and recommend what needs to be done to make the site safe and dispose of the asbestos. Councils must keep records of site assessments, clean-up actions and clearance certificates to meet their legal obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020.

Asbestos removal

Asbestos can only be removed by a licensed asbestos removalist. There are three types of licence:

  • Class A removalist: can remove all types of asbestos (friable and non-friable)
  • Class B removalist: can only remove non-friable asbestos.
  • Licensed asbestos assessor: can perform air monitoring, clearance inspections and issue clearance certificates for all asbestos removal work and must be used for friable asbestos removal work conducted by a Class A removalist.

You can use the Online Licence Search to check if a removalist is licensed.

Illegal disposal

Illegal asbestos disposal is a serious risk to both health and the environment. Local government plays a key role in preventing this by:

  • promoting safe disposal options
  • monitoring compliance
  • educating residents about the dangers of illegal dumping
  • working with state and national regulators to investigate incidents and enforce penalties
  • providing clear information on lawful disposal methods.

Read more on how to take action on illegal disposal of asbestos.

Resources and guidance

The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency has developed two guides to help government and non‑government organisations communicate asbestos information clearly and effectively:

There are also useful fact sheets on:

Other resources and guidance

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