"Asbestos is ubiquitous in New South Wales."

NSW Minister The Hon. Penny Sharp, NSW Minister for Climate Change, Minister for Energy, Minister for the Environment, and Minister for Heritage, explains what the NSW government is doing to manage the asbestos problem.

Asbestos was banned in Australia more than 20 years ago — so it would be nice to think it’s behind us. But it isn’t. From the asbestos in mulch crisis across Sydney in early 2024 to asbestos turning up in children’s imported coloured sand in late 2025, these situations are a wake-up call: asbestos is still very much part of our present, not just our past.

So, what’s actually being done about it in NSW? And what was the outcome of the mulch situation?

In this episode, James O’Loghlin sits down with the NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Heritage and the Environment, the Hon. Penny Sharpe. While her portfolio is huge, the focus here is tight - asbestos, public safety and the role of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) in NSW.

The Minister breaks down how the EPA responded to the mulch crisis, what the investigation found, and the lessons that are already shaping how asbestos is handled going forward. They also get into the uncomfortable reality of illegal dumping - why it happens, how disposal costs play a role, and what needs to change to make safe removal easier and more accessible.

With millions of tonnes of asbestos still sitting in homes and buildings, the Minister discusses NSW’s role in the national asbestos eradication strategy - and why climate-driven disasters like floods and fires make this issue even more urgent.

The takeaway? Asbestos isn’t a problem with a quick fix. It’s long-term, it’s complex, and it requires constant attention. As the Minister puts it, it’s something she thinks about “all the time”.

This conversation gives an inside look into how the government is trying to tackle the issue, the Minister’s openness to learning from what’s gone wrong, and her commitment to preventing future asbestos-related incidents.

The Hon. Penny Sharpe was first elected to the NSW Legislative Council in October 2005. Penny is currently Labor's Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Heritage and the Environment, as well as the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.

In the previous Parliament Penny was Labor's Shadow Minister for the Environment, Disability Inclusion and Family and Community Services.

In the previous Labor Government, Penny was a Parliamentary Secretary across a number of portfolios including Transport, Roads, Mining and Energy.
Prior to entering Parliament Penny was a policy advisor in the areas of Vocational Education & Training, Community Services, Homelessness, Drug & Alcohol, Juvenile Justice and Young People. She worked for several years developing partnerships across NSW between schools, businesses and communities to provide workplace learning for young people.
Penny's policy interests include public transport, the environment, education, women, LGBTI reform and e democracy.
Penny has previously been a foster carer for young women. She has three children.

In her current role, Penny Sharpe is responsible for the NSW Environment Protection Authority - NSW's independent environmental regulator which aims to protect the health of our environment and communities.

You can find out more about The Hon Penny Sharpe here.

Learn more about the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) here.

To find out more about ADDRI, visit our website.

Thank you to our Podcast Interviewer and host James O’Loghlin and Producer Rod Morri from Sydney Podcast Studios

If you have any questions or comments, please email info@addri.org.au