The ACT Asbestos Response Taskforce will hold two public forums for Mr Fluffy owners on Thursday night and next Tuesday amid a splintering of community groups and acrimonious infighting on social media.
Taskforce chief Andrew Kefford said the forums would mark the start of a series of public meetings to support owners as they negotiated their way through the buy-back program.
The Fluffy Owners and Residents’ Action Group, meanwhile, has cancelled a planned forum for Saturday, encouraging its members to attend either of the two forums.
Taskforce chief Andrew Kefford said “We remain committed to working and meeting with individuals and families and these forums do not replace our focus on individual circumstances. The forums provide another avenue for homeowners to seek information in additional to our other channels.”
The meetings will focus on timelines, valuations of properties and questions about block remediation.
Paul Powderly of the Australian Property Institute ACT Branch, who is responsible for coordinating valuations, bureaucrats from the Environment and Planning Directorate, and taskforce personal support team members will also attend.
Mr Kefford said while the primary concern was for the health and wellbeing of the 1021 affected homeowners and their families, “we are very aware this legacy issue also impacts neighbours, members of our community, tradespeople, industry and others and we will be seeking to work will all these stakeholders through 2015 and as this program of work continues.”
Fluffy Owners and Residents’ Action Group founder Brianna Heseltine has weathered many personal attacks over her campaign in recent weeks and days and said she understood many of the emotions that were coming to the surface during recent times as more families came to terms with their asbestos contamination.
“These people may not feel that their voices have been heard and I am completely respectful of that position. Some others wanted to contribute more to the campaign than I could possibly harness or than I thought would of strategic benefit. Occasionally, personality clashes emerged and I wasn’t able to diffuse them. Overwhelmingly, we’ve all felt powerless about our homes and that powerlessness has sometimes erupted into anger. What’s important is that we stand in solidarity and not work against each other”, Ms Heseltine said.
The group had invited new Chief Minister Andrew Barr to attend as many Mr Fluffy owners felt anxious about the change of ACT leader mid-way through the buy-back scheme. Mr Barr was unable to attend due to family reasons but said he would be monitoring the Mr Fluffy issue closely.
A splinter group of affected Mr Fluffy homeowners meanwhile have formed their own group “Mr Fluffy Homes – Full Disclosure” and are seeking more flexible arrangements from the Government around the buyback and allowing people to stay on their land.
The group has also started a Change.Org petition for the Government to accept the 61 recommendations of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts into the Appropriation Bill on Mr Fluffy. These include costing a scheme to allow people to remain on their land and a call for a Board of Inquiry into the entire Mr Fluffy issue.
Various group members have expressed anger and distrust in Ms Heseltine after The Canberra Times obtained and published information that Ms Heseltine had become a member of the Australian Labor Party earlier this year.
David Read, who grew up in a Mr Fluffy home and whose mother continues to reside in the home, is one of the administrators of the group. He said the more voices which were heard on the Mr Fluffy issues the better. He said FORAG had lost his confidence because of Ms Heseltine’s political affiliations.
Some owners have joined both FORAG and Mr Fluffy Full Disclosure just to keep abreast of developments on the issue.
The Taskforce said it would continue to negotiate with all individuals, noting Ms Heseltine was a member of the Community and Expert Reference Group.