Imagine starting your university journey in a brand-new, state-of-the-art campus, only to discover a hidden danger lurking within its walls. That’s the unsettling reality for students and staff at Edith Cowan University’s (ECU) new Perth CBD campus, where asbestos has been found in fire doors just months before its grand opening. But here’s where it gets even more concerning: authorities have confirmed the hazardous material won’t be removed before the first students arrive in early 2025.
ECU’s $853 million flagship campus, jointly funded by the university and state and federal governments, is set to welcome its inaugural cohort next semester. However, this ambitious project has hit a snag that’s raising eyebrows—and health concerns. Government minister Jackie Jarvis revealed in parliament that the building received an exemption from work health and safety regulations, allowing it to open with asbestos-containing materials still in place. Specifically, 14 fire doors were found to contain asbestos, embedded within their metal frames.
And this is the part most people miss: While officials insist there’s no immediate risk of exposure, the decision to delay removal has sparked debate. Jarvis explained the exemption was granted to ensure the doors meet fire safety standards and allow construction to finish on schedule. ‘Door replacement was not practicable in the medium-term,’ she stated, adding that strict conditions—including the use of licensed asbestos removalists and ongoing air monitoring—are in place to manage the risk.
Asbestos, banned in Australia due to its link to deadly diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer, is a serious concern. Yet, ECU has remained tight-lipped, deferring to builder Multiplex, which acknowledged the issue in September and promptly notified WorkSafe and workers. A spokesperson for Multiplex assured that the doors will be replaced in coordination with WorkSafe and ECU, but the timeline remains vague.
Here’s the controversial twist: Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk revealed the asbestos was likely imported from overseas by a Queensland manufacturer, highlighting a broader issue with imported products. This isn’t an isolated incident—asbestos has recently been found in brake pads at Australian wind farms and even in coloured sand. McGurk admitted regulating these imports remains a challenge, especially when other countries have less stringent guidelines.
‘We need to work with federal authorities to ensure imported materials meet the same safety standards as domestic products,’ she said. But is this enough? As the doors are slated for replacement during semester breaks, questions linger about why such a dangerous material was allowed in the first place—and whether this is a symptom of a larger oversight in construction and import regulations.
What do you think? Is the government doing enough to protect us from hazardous imports? Or is this a wake-up call for stricter oversight? Let us know in the comments—this is a conversation that needs to happen.
