Australia 'should help Asia ban asbestos'

Australia has been told it has a duty to help its Asian neighbours phase out asbestos amid concerns there could be a flood of imported products containing the deadly carcinogen.

Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency chief executive Peter Tighe says Australia already is managing an asbestos legacy.

"We don't want that legacy to increase because manufactured goods in Asia still contain this deadly carcinogen," he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.

Labor Senator Lisa Singh and independent Nick Xenophon have met a delegation of anti-asbestos campaigners from Laos and Vietnam at Parliament House.

Meanwhile, the pair hit out at James Hardie for slashing its contributions to an asbestos injury compensation fund by 44 per cent last financial year despite increasing profits by 22 per cent to $260 million.

Senator Xenophon said the company's decision to pay compensation in instalments to dying victims was unacceptable and immoral.

He's also concerned Border Force is not putting in enough effort to intercept dodgy products.

Senator Singh seized on a recent case of authorities finding traces of asbestos in Dora the Explorer, Peppa Pig, Disney Frozen and Mickey Mouse crayons.

Dr Tran Tuan from a Vietnamese research and training centre for community development told reporters his country is trying to ban asbestos use by 2020.