Chinese cars recalled over asbestos concerns
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) is calling for an investigation into how thousands of cars containing asbestos came to be imported into the country.
Ateco Automotive has recalled almost 25,000 Great Wall and Chery Chinese cars after asbestos was found in the engine and exhaust gaskets.
Ateco Automotive is asking owners to return the cars to their dealership.
It says the asbestos is bound into gaskets in the engine and exhaust system and does not present any risk to consumers during use of the vehicle.
However, consumers should not perform do-it-yourself maintenance that might disturb these gaskets.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is monitoring the recall and says the Chery J-1 model and newly imported stock of both brands are not affected by the recall.
AMWU national secretary Paul Bastian says it is unacceptable these vehicles were allowed into Australia and the manufacturer should be prosecuted.
"What is the Government and customs going to do to ensure this doesn't happen again?" he said.
"At the very least there needs to be prosecution of those who are found to import products or components containing asbestos in breach of our regulations."
Mr Bastian says the mechanics now removing the asbestos must be properly protected.
"It is unacceptable that we have a situation here where the quality control is so poor that we have so many vehicles now containing asbestos that now have to be recalled and the asbestos removed," he said.
"Now we want to make sure that all the asbestos components are removed.
"It will not be good enough to have some remain in situ."
