Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Faruqi, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) between September and October 2018, more than 20 cases of advanced silicosis had been found in Queensland,

  (ii) by 26 November 2018, 53 young men, including 11 with progressive massive fibrosis, had been diagnosed with severe progressive silicosis following dust exposure from cutting artificial stone benchtops,

  (iii) it is highly likely that many more will soon be detected,

  (iv) at present, there is no known treatment that can arrest the progress of this disease,

  (v) previous attempts have been made to raise this issue with the Government, but they have not taken action on it,

  (vi) the majority of recommendations contained in the report of the Community Affairs References Committee into workplace exposure to toxic dust, received on 31 May 2006, have not been actioned, and

  (vii) the only effective action against silicosis is preventing exposure to silica dust; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to:

  (i) fund an initiative to educate workers in at-risk occupations on the dust control measures used in their industry, including:

(A) independent monitoring of dust levels,

(B) training in the selection, maintenance and use of respirators, and

(C) use of measures to control airborne dust, including enforcing an immediate prohibition on dry-cutting techniques,

  (ii) conduct comprehensive enforcement of hazardous substances regulations related to silica dust exposure, and

  (iii) recognise the need for:

(A) qualified and competent occupational hygienists to be involved in the recognition, evaluation and control of silica exposures, and

(B) establishing a multi-disciplinary Institute of Occupational Health.