Asbestos Legislation

The recently revealed asbestos compensation plan in Australia will likely have an impact on many workers in Tasmania.

Under the proposal, which was recently submitted for public comment, workers with asbestos-related diseases would be eligible for up to $500,000 in compensation, according to the Tasmanian Mercury.

One of the plans for the program would be to fund the project by placing a 4.5 percent tax on the workers compensation premiums paid by employers.

Under the plan, workers would receive an initial payout of $250,000, with a maximum of $100,000 for medical expenses, according to the news source. Additional money would be awarded to workers under the age of 65.

The second proposal would place a 5 percent levy on employers, provide a $250,000 payout and cap medical expenses at $50,000.

Workplace Relations Minister David O'Byrne said the proposals would help afflicted workers in the Australian state.

"We currently have a situation in Tasmania where many workers with asbestos-related diseases are not receiving the care and support they require," he told the news provider.

Many industrial workers suffer from mesothelioma and asbestosis as a result of the asbestos exposure they suffered on the job.