in these countries, and the relatively high proportion used of the most dangerous types, blue and brown. It is estimated there have already been at least 4,700 deaths from mesothelioma in Australia since records began in the early 1980s [8], and more than 25,000 Australians will die from it over the next 40 years. [8] Currently, each year 500 men and 100 women develop mesothelioma in Australia, and this is expected to rise to 900 new cases a year by 2020. [8] Asbestos in Australia Between 1945 and 1980, asbestos was used extensively in construction and industry in Australia. Most public buildings and about one third of private dwellings built in this era contained asbestos in the forms of concrete, asbestos cement sheeting (AC sheeting or fibro), vinyl floor coverings, lagging of pipes and boilers, and insulation (laid or sprayed). Removing this asbestos, and dealing with asbestos that remains in situ , have required careful management. [4] [5] Asbestos was phased out in Australia after 1980. It was finally banned from building products in 1989, though it remained in gaskets and brake linings until recently. Asbestos was prohibited completely after 31 December 2003, and can not be imported, used or recycled. [3] [4] The mining of asbestos ended in Australia in 1983. Before that, blue asbestos was mined primarily at Wittenoom in WA, with earlier and smaller mines in SA, Tasmania and NSW. White asbestos was mined in NSW and Tasmania. Asbestos was also imported from South Africa and Canada.