The City Health Centre in Canberra's city centre will remain closed on Friday after asbestos-containing material was discovered in a plant room, extending the initial three-day shutdown as specialist consultants continue their investigations.
Closure extended for safety
Infrastructure Canberra announced on Thursday that the building at the corner of Moore Street and Alinga Street would stay shut while the government acts on expert advice. The agency had previously stated the closure would last at least until Thursday, but further testing has prompted an additional day of closure.
"The health and safety of occupants remains our highest priority and decisions regarding reoccupation of the building will continue to be guided by expert advice," Infrastructure Canberra said in a statement. Services operating from 1 Moore Street have been closed or temporarily relocated, with the agency advising tenants and the public to contact service providers directly for accessibility information.
Affected services and tenants
The building houses several critical services, including the MSI Canberra Abortion and Contraception Clinic, BreastScreen ACT, the canTEST pill testing service, and the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN). The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal was previously located there. The government is working to minimise disruption and support affected tenants.
On Wednesday, the government revealed that specialist consultants recommended closure on Tuesday, which was then extended through Wednesday and Thursday. The discovery occurred during routine maintenance, with a positive asbestos test returned on Monday.
Historical context of asbestos in the building
Construction of the City Health Centre began in the 1970s, before ACT self-government, when asbestos was widely used in Australian building products. Australia introduced asbestos bans from the mid-1980s and implemented a complete ban on manufacture, use, reuse, import, and sale of all asbestos forms in 2003.
According to a 2021 fact sheet by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), asbestos poses a health risk when fibres become airborne and are inhaled, potentially leading to mesothelioma, a rare cancer. The CSIRO noted that people exposed to asbestos in workplaces such as mining, manufacture, or installation face greater risk than those occupying buildings with asbestos products.
Previous asbestos incidents and government response
The ACT government had previously shut or partially closed several public schools after asbestos-contaminated play sand was identified in late 2025. Education Minister Yvette Berry told the Legislative Assembly in December 2025: "The laws in the ACT around asbestos removal are some of the most rigorous in the country. While we understand the risk of exposure to the traces of asbestos in these products was identified as low, under ACT work health and safety laws, any products containing asbestos must be assessed and removed by licensed asbestos assessors."
Building's future and funding
The Moore Street building was identified for sale over a decade ago under a Commonwealth asset recycling program. The 2016-17 ACT budget funded a business case for relocating the City Health Centre after its planned sale, but the government retained the building and provided $3.1 million between 2022 and 2024 to renovate office space and expand CBRIN's footprint.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr told the Legislative Assembly's standing committee on economics, industry and recreation in February 2025: "Future expansion of CBRIN at 1 Moore Street is supported subject to future demand for floor space, viable relocation options for existing tenants and provision of refurbishment funding through normal budget processes."
Infrastructure Canberra said it would provide further updates as soon as next steps for the building are confirmed.
