» Research » Projects » Accommodating trust in government buyout policies to permanently relocate householders from contaminated homes: A case study of a government buyout of homes contaminated with loose-fill asbestos insulation in the Australian Capital Territory
Accommodating trust in government buyout policies to permanently relocate householders from contaminated homes: A case study of a government buyout of homes contaminated with loose-fill asbestos insulation in the Australian Capital Territory
Project overview
This research project is exploring how trust influences implementation of government buyouts of homes with hazardous levels of contaminants.
Governments have a mandate to protect citizens from risks posed by hazardous levels of contaminants in residential environments. It is estimated there are 160,000 contaminated sites across Australia and some of these pervade places where residents live, work and play. Government entities use different strategies to mitigate hazardous contaminants affecting residential environments but home buyouts are rarely considered a viable remedy. Buyouts of contaminated homes are a mitigation option of last resort because they are costly from a socio-political standpoint and require ‘an extraordinary level of cooperation and funding’.
In cases where a buyout policy is enacted, it is not uncommon for tensions and distrust to arise between the governing institution and householders eligible for buyout and relocation support. Buyouts represent a significant intrusion by the government into the lives of householders who have been residing with hazardous contaminants. Research shows heightened levels of stress and distrust is an inherent consequence of living in a contaminated home and constantly brings into question who and what to trust. It is posited governments underestimate the need for trust building approaches in buyout policies and this may contribute to deficiencies during the implementation phase.
This research involves a qualitative case study of a buyout policy enacted by the Australian Capital Territory Government to mitigate risks associated with 1,043 houses contaminated with loose fill asbestos insulation. These houses are known locally as Mr Fluffy homes, and it is estimated approximately 4,000 people relocated as a result of this buyout.
This research will reveal insights about factors that diminish and build trust during buyout implementation and inform the design and implementation of future home buyout policies.
Funding
This research is supported by funding from an ACT Government Community Impact Research Scholarship to conduct a PhD thesis on the impact of loose fill asbestos insulation in the ACT region.
