Asbestos discovered in lift brake pads at a third Australian wind farm has prompted calls for greater border scrutiny by anti-asbestos advocates.
Beijing Jingeng Energy International (Australia) has become the third company to confirm the presence of asbestos in its wind turbine lift brake pads, which are supplied by Chinese company 3S Industry.
It comes after revelations from Goldwind Australia and Vestas that their turbines were similarly affected.
Goldwind Australia says some of the brake pads in use at its farms contain asbestos. (ABC Capricornia: Katrina Beavan)
The ABC understands Chinese supplier 3S Industry provides lift brake pads to the majority of wind turbine operators in Australia.
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen told federal parliament that 3S Industry supplied parts to more than just wind turbine operators.
Asbestos Disease Support Society chair Trevor Torrens said it was “astonishing” Australia was dealing with an asbestos importation breach during National Asbestos Awareness Week.
“The importation of asbestos-containing goods has been legislatively banned since 2003,” Mr Torrens said.
“Despite this ban being in place for over 20 years, we are still seeing asbestos-containing products enter Australia, primarily from China, as it is in this case.”
Mr Torrens said asbestos products were “continually” slipping through Australia’s border.
“Asbestos has been detected in imported children’s crayons, remote control cars and aircraft, manual pallet trucks, billiard table irons, bee-hive smokers, acetylene cylinders and after-market gaskets,” Mr Torrens said.
“The more recent event was asbestos containing material in coloured sands, primarily used in schools and day care centres.”
Asbestos has been found in some coloured sand products in Australia. (Supplied: ACCC)
The federal government and 3S Industry have been contacted for comment.
Major trade partners use asbestos
Australian Border Force (ABF) said it used a risk-based approach to identify imported goods that may contain asbestos. It said mandatory testing would be costly.
Some of Australia’s major trading partners are on the ABF’s list of countries known to import goods that may contain asbestos.
Almost 10 years ago, ABC reported asbestos was slipping into the country in imports from some of those countries.
Despite that, an ABF spokesperson said it had “strict” requirements in place for at-risk goods.
“We are aware of recent reports that the lift brakes from certain wind turbines are suspected of containing asbestos,” an ABF spokesperson said.
“Individuals may be fined up to $330,000 or three times the value of the goods, or imprisoned for up to five years.Â
“Body corporates may be fined up to $1,650,000 or 15 times the value of the goods.”‘The simple answer is death’
Beijing Jingeng Energy International (Australia) told the ABC asbestos had been identified in spare brake pads used on some of the lifts in its turbines.
The company owns Gullen Range Wind Farm in Bannister, New South Wales, Biala Wind Farm in New South Wales and is 51 per cent owner of Moorabool Wind Farm in Bungal, Victoria.
“At this stage, it does not appear that the same internal service lifts or brake pads are installed at Gullen Range Wind Farm,” a company spokesperson said.
“Since being advised of this issue, our focus has been on the health and safety of our staff, contractors and the community; and ensuring that all relevant authorities are informed as well as investigations and testing undertaken.”
Three wind farm energy companies have discovered asbestos products at their sites. (Supplied)
The company said it had remained in constant communication with Goldwind to understand the steps it had taken in response to the asbestos scare.
“Advice on how to undertake maintenance has been sought from independent third-party experts and our priority remains the health and safety of our staff, contractors and community,” the spokesperson said.
“Any work that has the potential to expose a worker or member of the community to asbestos will not be considered.”Supply chain concern
Mr Torrens said there were issues with international supply chain processes that required investigation.
“Eradication of asbestos-containing products is the only way to prevent asbestos-related diseases, particularly mesothelioma, of which there is no cure and an average life expectancy from diagnosis of 18 months,” Mr Torrens said.
Trevor Torrens wants Australian Border Force to investigate how asbestos products have been found in Australia. (Supplied: Australian Border Force)
Mr Torrens said the discovery of asbestos in lift brake pads was particularly alarming.
He urged Australian Border Force to investigate how products containing asbestos were able to reach Australian shores.
“Asbestos containing brake pads readily release the asbestos fibres and they are worn down and are inhaled into the lungs,” he said.
Mr Torrens said the mere presence of asbestos was concerning.
“The simple answer is death,” he said.
“The number of [mesothelioma] cases diagnosed each year for men and women has steadily increased over the past 40 years there were 688 deaths of people from mesothelioma recorded for 2023 and 684 cases were diagnosed in 2024.”