The Australian Government’s Northern Territory Intervention, aimed at improving health and living conditions in Indigenous communities, was intended to address overcrowded housing, lack of education, and limited employment opportunities, along with 
environmental health issues such as lack of clean water, washing facilities, and functioning septic systems all influence health outcomes of individuals and the community.
Asbestos has reportedly been found in houses in most remote communities caught up in the Australian federal government’s intervention into the Northern Territory, National Indigenous Times reports.
The asbestos was discovered in August 2007 by tradespeople working on houses in one of the remote communities, prompting the federal government to order surveys of all 73 communities affected by the intervention.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said the surveys conducted so far had revealed the presence of asbestos in 45 out of the 50 remote communities surveyed to date.
Testing in the remaining 23 communities is expected to be completed by the end of July 2008.
Ms. Macklin said that none of the material discovered to date presented an immediate risk to health, but that the government would take steps to ensure the communities were not adversely affected.
Asbestos is everywhere.
