Asbestos in Australia presents for the first time a multi-dimensional view ofAustralia's asbestos story featuring contributions from experts in thedisciplines of history, journalism, medicine, law and public health. It alsoincludes first-hand accounts of those whose lives have been touched by themineral, as workers, asbestos disease sufferers, and lawyers and campaignersdirectly engaged in the struggle to ban its use. The writers track the historyof asbestos from the early 20th century, when asbestos was mined in Australia,to the post-war housing boom which saw asbestos become the material of choicein cities and suburbs around the country. They then deal with its controversiallegacy: the dire medical consequences from exposure, the cover-ups and theprotracted legal battles for compensation, and the ongoing risks to publichealth from the asbestos that remains in our workplaces, schools and homes tothis day.