Qld: ABC faces potential litigation from breast cancer sufferers

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2006
Qld: ABC faces potential litigation from breast cancer sufferers

By Christine Flatley and Rosemary Desmond

BRISBANE, Dec 21 AAP - The ABC is facing possible legal action from women who have
contracted breast cancer while working at the broadcaster's Brisbane studios.

An independent study has found that women who worked at the Toowong studios in the
city's inner-west reported breast cancer at a rate of up to 11 times higher than the general
working community.

The shock findings forced ABC managing director Mark Scott to order the immediate closure
of the studios, even though the cause of the unusually high incidence of cancer remains
a mystery.

"Given the uncertainty of not knowing what has caused it, the only alternative was
to move quickly to relocate the site," Mr Scott said today.

He rejected suggestions staff should have been moved sooner, saying it would not have
been appropriate to act before the study was completed.

The 350 staff employed at ABC in Brisbane will temporarily use the studios of the Seven
Network and Network Ten until suitable accommodation can be found.

In the meantime, the ABC will commission a study of the incidence of breast cancer
among staff at other sites around Australia in an effort to find out the cause of the
cancer cluster at Toowong.

ABC journalist Ian Eckersley said he had been notified that women were already starting
to pursue avenues for compensation.

"I know the women are talking about it," Mr Eckersley said.

"I know there's one staff member, or ex-staff member, who's been investigating that
pretty thoroughly and it wouldn't surprise me if there's a class action out of this."

Mr Eckersley was one of three staff members who worked alongside the panel of scientists
commissioned by the ABC in July to investigate the high incidence of cancer.

Twelve women who worked at the Toowong office have been diagnosed with breast cancer
in the past 11 years.

Eight of the women worked in the newsroom and most had been there for more than five years.

The study confirmed the higher than usual levels of incidence, and concluded that long-term
employees were most at risk.

However there is still no conclusive evidence about what has caused the cancer cluster,
and Dr Bruce Armstrong, who headed the study, said it was unlikely they would ever know.

"I think the history of investigations of clusters like this tells us that (the likelihood)
is pretty low ... most of the time an explanation is not found," Dr Armstrong said.

"This is an unusual cluster and on that basis it ought to be obvious what the cause
is, but it's not obvious what the cause is."

Mr Scott said there should only be minor disruptions to Queensland news bulletins.

The swift action to abandon the site has been welcomed by staff members.

However, Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) state secretary David Waters
said the Queensland management's response to staff concerns was unacceptable.

"ABC Queensland's management's handling of this matter ... could be characterised as
at times tokenistic, at times dismissive, but overwhelmingly, inadequate," he said.

Staff now fear there may be more incidents of breast cancer as yet undiscovered.

"There could be a lag factor for women working here ... we hope to God that's not the
case," Mr Eckersley said.

"We hope we've had the last case of breast cancer amongst ABC staff but there's no
certainty of that."

ABC staff will be given free mammograms and counselling during the relocation process.

Meanwhile, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie says the state government will help the
ABC find a new Brisbane site.

AAP cf/sc/jt/nf

KEYWORD: BREAST NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

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