A Canberra man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma after playing in loose-fill ‘Mr Fluffy’ asbestos as a child has been awarded more than a quarter of a million dollars by the ACT Government. The payment will go towards his treatment, although there is no cure for mesothelioma.
The Commonwealth Government, which had control of the Mr Fluffy remediation program, has not been part of the compensation arrangements for Mr Wallner. The ACT Government has awarded a payout of $250,000 towards the treatment of his malignant pleural mesothelioma but has emphasised that it does not take responsibility.
In a statement, Chief Minister Andrew Barr confirmed that the government is committing to investigating a scheme for future victims of mesothelioma because of exposure to the loose-fill product, which was used throughout the ACT in the 1970s.
The payment has been marked as an “act of grace” payment for Mr Wallner’s medical costs, and also marks the first time a government at any level has made a payment for sickness arising from exposure to the material.
Mr Wallner’s family launched a bid for government compensation following his diagnosis. For people diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma, the average time from diagnosis to death is merely 11 months.
ACT Chief Minister and Treasurer Andrew Barr explained in a statement that he had agreed to an “act of grace” payment to cover two years of medical treatment, but a larger claim relating loss of income and superannuation, pain and suffering is still being assessed.
The family has welcomed the decision, saying “It’s just an enormous weight off our mind.”