The ABC has confirmed the deaths of three former employees linked to historical asbestos exposure at its old Melbourne sites, triggering a new wave of scrutiny over how the broadcaster is handling contamination that still exists across 13 active studios.
The issue resurfaced during Senate estimates, where executives detailed the scale of the problem – from legacy exposure dating back to the 1950s, to a current register listing studios from Darwin to Geelong that remain contaminated but “professionally managed” to avoid staff exposure.
Managing director Hugh Marks described the situation as “horrific” and said the ABC was “deeply concerned” for those affected.
“We’re deeply, obviously, concerned for any of our staff who’ve suffered loss or even the worry of potential loss that must sit at the back of your mind, having worked in some of these facilities over time,” he said.
Hugh Marks
Decades of exposure, incomplete records, growing anxiety
The deaths relate to past exposure at the ABC’s former Elsternwick studios and Broadcast House, where asbestos was present from the 1950s through the mid-1980s.
Chief financial officer Melanie Kleyn said the broadcaster could not “actually confirm” whether the deaths were due to time spent on site, but said they were “related to exposure” and that the ABC had contacted the families.
Kleyn acknowledged earlier answers provided to Senator Sarah Henderson had been inaccurate, with the ABC initially advising two deaths before correcting the number to three.
“We cannot, of course, actually confirm it was due to being at those sites,” she said, while confirming the broadcaster was aware of three staff who had died “in relation to exposure to asbestos”.
The ABC admitted it does not have a full list of everyone who may have been exposed. More than 645 staff self-identified in 1984, with later additions from Elsternwick, Ripponlea and other Victorian sites.
A “voluntary exposure list” remains open, with affected staff encouraged to seek medical screening and reimbursement.
Marks said the ABC had sought to be “proactive” in contacting former employees. “We completely understand how this situation can create anxiety,” he said.
Chief Financial Officer Melanie Kleyn
Contamination remains across 13 ABC studios
The ABC confirmed that 13 current sites still contain asbestos, including: Darwin, Launceston, Hobart, Kununurra, Collinswood, Rockhampton, Mount Isa, Longreach, Geelong, Warrnambool, Dickson, Tamworth and Toowoomba.
Many sites had not been reviewed for years – Geelong’s last review was in March 2018; Kununurra’s in 2021; Tamworth’s in 2022.
Some had no future review date listed. In one instance, the Darwin register noted asbestos “in an internal brace in a Telecom in-ground cement fibre pit underneath a ramp”.
The broadcaster said its asbestos register was continuously updated and that contaminated materials were monitored, managed and removed when renovations allowed. “Asbestos awareness training is provided to all workers and contractors,” it told the Senate.
But the release of the register – including documentation from 1978 describing parts of studios as being in “poor” condition – has intensified concern.
Political pressure rises over disclosure and accountability
Opposition communications spokesperson Melissa McIntosh said it was “very alarming” that the ABC had not disclosed asbestos locations earlier in the year.
“The uncovering of this register would naturally be a worry to thousands of current and former ABC staff, and the ABC must prioritise them,” she said.
She also criticised the government for failing to ensure the broadcaster provided complete transparency. “I would like to receive a thorough explanation from the ABC as to what they are doing to address this issue, and expect the Communications Minister and the Albanese Labor Government to step up and ensure everything is being done for the potentially impacted ABC staff.”
The ACTU has also renewed calls for legal reform requiring employers to remove asbestos entirely from workplaces, warning more than six million tonnes remain in buildings across Australia.
The stakes: safety, trust and a long road to remediation
The ABC stressed that all contaminated sites are managed in line with legislative requirements and reviewed as part of an “ongoing work program” aimed at eliminating asbestos from every premises. “That program is constantly being assessed and reviewed,” Marks said.
“We’ll continue that exercise until we can get rid of asbestos from every premises, but it takes time, as we all know.”