Mesothelioma is a usually fatal cancer which typically occurs 20 to 40 years after exposure to asbestos, although exposure does not necessarily result in the disease.
Safe Work Australia has fully funded the new Australian Mesothelioma Registry. The Registry is being managed by a consortium led by the Cancer Institute of New South Wales and will combine the mandatory notification of Mesothelioma to cancer registries in each state and territory with timely follow up of consenting patients to collect exposure information. This replaces the Australian Mesothelioma Register which was suspended in 2008 because of the considerable reduction in the number of voluntary notifications received under new state privacy laws.
Safe Work Australia will continue to publish an annual report based on Australian Institute of Health & Welfare Cancer Clearing House data until that data reports for 2011-12: reports will then, most likely, be replaced by reports from the Australian Mesothelioma Registry.
Annual Mesothelioma Report: incidence and deaths
Mesothelioma in Australia: Incidence 1982 to 2007 Deaths 1997 to 2007
Mesothelioma in Australia: Incidence 1982 to 2006 Deaths 1997 to 2007
Mesothelioma in Australia: Incidence 1982 to 2005 Deaths 1997 to 2006
Mesothelioma in Australia: Incidence 1982 to 2004 Deaths 1997 to 2005
The Australian Mesothelioma Register
From 1 January 1986 until 2004 a notification system operated which included a short questionnaire history. Only histologically confirmed cases were accepted but there was no pathology panel diagnosis confirmation. Cross checks with state cancer registries were regularly carried out. Annual reports from these data were produced. This report was discontinued and replaced by the Annual Mesothelioma Report: incidence and deaths series.
The Incidence of Mesothelioma in Australia 1999 to 2001, Australian Mesothelioma Register (16th) Report, 2004
The Incidence of Mesothelioma in Australia 1998 to 2000. Australian Mesothelioma Register Report (15th) Report, 2003
The Incidence of Mesothelioma in Australia 1997 to 1999. Australian Mesothelioma Register Report (14th) Report, 2002
The Incidence of Mesothelioma in Australia 1996 to 1998. Australian Mesothelioma Register Report (13th) Report, 2001
The Incidence of Mesothelioma in Australia 1995 to 1997. Australian Mesothelioma Register Report (12th) Report, 2000
The Incidence of Mesothelioma in Australia 1994 to 1996. Australian Mesothelioma Register Report (11th) Report, 1999