Asbestos change may be too late for Tina
As a little girl, Tina Holt played in the backyard of her parents' Spearwood home as fences went up, a shed was installed and rooms renovated - all with the common ingredient of asbestos.
She even tagged along with her father when he cleaned up after the builders, taking all the leftover material to the rubbish tip.
It was the mid-1970s and asbestos cement building materials from the nearby James Hardie factories were plentiful.
But almost four decades on, Ms Holt, now 43 and mother to 10-year-old Enola-Jean, is slowly dying of mesothelioma.
When she was diagnosed in August last year, she was given six to nine months to live, and is thankful to have so far managed to keep the disease in check.
Enola-Jean is mainly being cared for by her father Bill, who runs the household because his wife is often too tired and unwell to help out.
"There are lots of things I can't do for her any more, like making her lunch in the morning, and even walking makes me breathless," Ms Holt said.
"I'm on lots of medication, but lo and behold, I'm still here and trying to stay as positive as I can for my daughter and husband."
Ms Holt is suing Amaca, previously known as James Hardie, which made and distributed building and other products containing asbestos between 1937 and 1987.
But without a change in laws, she cannot claim damages for her loss of capacity to provide daily care for her daughter.
"I have a little bell I ring if I need help, so clearly I can't be there for my daughter," Ms Holt said.
"It's frustrating that the claim we can make is quite limited.
"I would like to think if this new legislation doesn't come in time for us, it might help another family caring for their dying or disabled parent."
