The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has expressed deep concern over the defamation lawsuit brought about by the Indonesian Fibre Cement Manufacturers' Assocation (FICMA) Indonesia against the Local Initiatives OHS Network (LION) and its partners.

FICMA is suing LION and others for defamation and financial damages in an attempt to overturn a recent Supreme Court decision mandating hazard warning labels on asbestos products in Indonesia.

Organisations including LION have worked to raise awareness of the well-documented dangers of chrysotile asbestos (white asbestos). Asbestos, including chrysotile asbestos, which has been long banned in many countries, including Australia, is known to be responsible for the deaths of more than 1,000 Indonesian people every year with actual figures likely to be much higher.

The ANMF stands in solidarity with unions and will continue to support global efforts to protect workers, communities, and future generations from the devastating impacts of asbestos exposure. 

Read more