Water Corporation staff and contractors working on a concrete water tank in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region have potentially been exposed to deadly asbestos, the state government has confirmed.
Opposition water spokesman Dave Kelly revealed to the media on Thursday that 88 workers had been exposed to the material while grinding the floor of the tank, at Minnivale near Wyalkatchem, and while removing exterior cladding.
Water Minister Mia Davies was livid in parliament on Thursday, saying she had discussed the matter with Mr Kelly on Wednesday night and he'd revealed it publicly before all of the workers had been notified.
"I'm absolutely appalled that we're having this conversation in a public forum when I explicitly went to the shadow minister yesterday and advised him that this had been brought to my attention and that there were still people ... that had not been advised," Ms Davies said.