UPDATE

Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean has ordered a review into how Blue Mountains City Council was granted an asbestos removal licence, saying he has “a number of concerns”.

Mr Kean has issued the following statement to The Ray Hadley Morning Show:

“I have ordered an immediate review into this decision to get to the bottom of exactly how and why this application was approved.

I’ll consider the results of that review in due course.

But I have a number of concerns, and that’s why I have ordered this review.”

All governments make decisions that leave you scratching your head from time to time.

This one could take the cake though.

On Friday, Ray Hadley received a tip that Blue Mountains City Council had been granted an asbestos removal licence by SafeWork NSW.

This comes after almost a year of explosive asbestos mismanagement allegations revealed by 2GB.

Across 2014 and 2015, the council allegedly received three asbestos audits identifying contamination in more than 100 council buildings and work sites.

The mayor and his team did nothing.

Since Ray made the story public, the allegations have kept on coming until NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton moved to suspend the council in February and then launched a public inquiry in June.

Unbelievably, the minister responsible for SafeWork, Matt Kean, has confirmed this latest story is true.

The Blue Mountains City Council has just been granted a new asbestos removal licence.

SafeWork NSW claims it has been “working extensively” with the council in relation to its asbestos management plan.

Ray Hadley says the decision is ludicrous.

Click PLAY below to hear the full story

Full SafeWork NSW statement:

“SafeWork NSW has been working extensively with Blue Mountains City Council in relation to its asbestos management plan.

The licence application has been assessed in accordance with SafeWork NSW’s licencing assessment process and Council has been granted a non-friable asbestos removal licence.

Council staff have undertaken the necessary non-friable asbestos removal training and asbestos supervisor training required to obtain a non-friable asbestos removal licence.

The licence will enable Council to undertake non-friable asbestos removal on council-owned buildings and will also assist in the remediation of illegally dumped non-friable asbestos.

Council will be subject to the conditions of the licence which includes an ongoing verification and review program by SafeWork NSW’s Asbestos and Demolition Services Unit.

SafeWork NSW continues to have ongoing engagement with Council in relation to compliance with asbestos safety laws and its investigation into the management of asbestos at Council’s Lawson Depot and stockpile is on-going.”