Russia is the largest producer of asbestos and the world's third largest consumer.   

Australia's largest trading partner, China, is the world's second largest producer of asbestos but its largest consumer (all Mesothelioma Centre sourced).   

In 2015 Australia signed ChAFTA - China Free Trade Agreement - providing privileged access to Chinese goods, not all of which, as recalls are affirm, conform to Australian content standards.   

Some contain asbestos fibres, e.g. crayons, asbestos in cement board, fibrous building panels, motor vehicle gaskets and brake pads.   

The extent of illegal importation is unknown because surveillance, limited as it is, cannot guarantee asbestos free products.   

The problem is further exacerbated by government policy "reducing red tape" formerly serving as checks on illegal activity, i.e. breaching carefully warranted protective Australian product and workmanship standards.   

While, as John Jarratt says, Australia banned asbestos in 2003, the danger has not been eliminated, instead merely gone underground, making it even more dangerous (Letter:  A deadly legacy, QA, 22 November, p.4).   

Asbestos use goes back 3,000 years, being found in Scandinavian house chinking and in pottery.   

Egyptians and Persians also used asbestos to embalm and wrap their dead.  

Ancient Greeks used asbestos extensively bestowing it with its name, which means inextinguishable or indestructible, while also recognising (Strabo) a sickness of the lungs in slave that wove cloth from its fibres.   

Roman naturalist, Pliny the elder, noted respiratory illnesses in those mining asbestos! 

Albert M. White, Queanbeyan

International Volunteer Day is a time for us to reflect on the immense contribution volunteers make to our society and thank them for all that they do. Red Cross is an organisation built on voluntary service, made up of 17 million volunteers worldwide.

Volunteers help us save lives, build resilient communities, support people in disaster, and prevent and alleviate human suffering in times of war and conflict.

Every day throughout the year our 35,000 members and volunteers in Australia improve the wellbeing of those who are experiencing extreme vulnerability. I can’t thank them enough for their time, energy and commitment, and I feel privileged to work alongside them.

Voluntary service not only helps the recipients, but also the volunteers whose lives are enriched by the act of giving. 

Penny Harrison, 

volunteering director

Australian Red Cross

Although it is important to have a basic knowledge and understanding of maths it is not as important as many will have us believe. When students who are not brilliant at maths see or hear these comments they begin to panic and need to be reassured they are not failures.

There are many high achievers who have not even studied maths at HSC level. Those who have been forced to do maths against their will are not happy and wish they were studying a subject relevant to their talent or interests.

There are still many students who are excelling in maths while also enjoying the challenge. These are the students who will use their mathematical ability at the tertiary level.

I feel sure there are many high earners without mathematical talent who have enough mathematical ability to keep a check on their bank accounts and the running costs of their daily lives.

Robyn Lewis, Raglan, NSW