Sam Rae (Hawke, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Every Australian worker has the right to be safe at work. However, sadly, for many years, thousands of Australian workers were unknowingly exposed to enormous risks in the workplace. Since the first Australian case of silicosis associated with engineered stone was reported in 2015, thousands of Australian workers have sadly been diagnosed with this insidious disease. Many spent years, or even decades, cutting and grinding the stone without any meaningful protection or understanding of the dangers they faced, covering themselves in deadly silica dust. The National Dust Disease Taskforce estimated in 2021 that one in four workers exposed to silica dust from engineered stone before 2018 has been diagnosed with silicosis—one in four workers. Such is the danger of the dust and the inadequacy of protections in so many Australian workplaces.

The impact that silicosis and other occupational respiratory diseases have on Australian workers and their families is absolutely devastating. Symptoms may not emerge until years after exposure, and might start as a persistent cough or shortness of breath. However, as the disease progresses, the lungs will continue to stiffen as the silica dust causes inflammation and scarring. Symptoms will progress further to chest pain and fatigue as simple breathing becomes increasingly harder. Sadly, Australians diagnosed with the disease will likely never recover. There is no cure and the effectiveness of treatment is very limited. That's why prevention and early detection must be a priority.

The National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry forms a key part of the government's response to the National Dust Disease Taskforce's final report. The registry will keep records of individuals diagnosed with or being treated for respiratory diseases such as silicosis. The registry will enable the analysis of data relating to the incidence of occupational respiratory disease in Australia, which will, in turn, assist with the development and evaluation of preventive measures. This analysis will enable us to better understand the true scale of these diseases in Australia which are often underreported and underestimated, as this disease can take years to emerge.

While there were 579 Australians diagnosed last year, research from Curtin University estimates that up to 100,000 cases of silicosis may emerge from current silica exposure. Clearly, the scale of this challenge requires very significant action. In order to ensure that comprehensive data is captured, this bill will require medical practitioners to report any diagnosis of a prescribed occupational respiratory disease via an online portal. The minimum notification information will include the patient's identity, the respiratory disease they have been diagnosed with and details about the likely exposure that caused the disease. It is essential that this data is gathered to ensure that we have the best chance of preventing further exposures in the future. More detailed information can be recorded with patient approval, and may include relevant medical test results; demographic and lifestyle information such as their smoking history; employment status; and details of each job where the individual believes they may have had an exposure.

This bill also includes provisions to share data with prescribed Commonwealth, state or territory authorities, as well as state and territory health agencies and work, health and safety agencies. This is essential to ensure that all levels of government are fully equipped to take action to reduce workplace exposure to respiratory-disease causing agents. The bill further recognises that some states already have a registry in place and provides for notification to state registries to occur through the national registry, should the state approve. This would remove a requirement for medical specialists to notify twice of any specific case.

Initially, the only prescribed occupational respiratory disease will be silicosis. However, there are provisions for other diseases to be added by the Minister for Health and Aged Care as necessary. The establishment of this registry will be a critical tool in the fight against silicosis and potentially other diseases in the future. No worker deserves to be put in a situation where they can contract a deadly, life-changing disease by simply showing up at work and doing their job well. We must act to protect these workers, and understanding where, how and why people are contracting silicosis is the first step. The data from the proposed registry will enable us to answer these crucial questions.

It is important to note that this is only the first step. Gathering the data alone will not prevent workers from contracting silicosis. Governments and businesses alike must act on that data. In its final report, the National Dust Disease Taskforce made a series of recommendations beyond the establishment of the registry. These recommendations included the enhancement of work health and safety measures, the development of guidelines to identify people at risk and improve the health screening available to them, improving support for people affected by dust related diseases and their families, and improving the diagnostic capacity of the health sector in relation to silicosis. That is why the government is implementing a range of measures to ensure that Australia's prevention and treatment measures are world class, protecting Australian workers from unacceptable health risks.

A national silicosis prevention strategy and national action plan is being developed in collaboration with unions, industry and health professionals, whilst investment is also being made in educational campaigns for employers, workers and health professionals to improve prevention, detection and treatment. Importantly, the government is also looking at ways we can limit the use of engineered stone, including an import ban.

I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the ACTU, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, for the power of work they have done to bring this issue to the attention of so many in this place. I would also like to particularly thank the very brave union members and workers who have been diagnosed with silicosis and are telling their story in order to raise awareness. With mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, labourers and admin workers all coming forward, it's clear that this disease doesn't discriminate and that workplace safety practices have been totally inadequate for far too long.

In fact, while occupational exposure only contributes 1.8 per cent of the overall burden of disease in Australia, in the specific case of silicosis, it contributes 100 per cent. One hundred per cent of silicosis cases are a direct result of exposure in the workplace. That means workplace exposure is entirely responsible for the pain and suffering of thousands of Australians diagnosed with silicosis as well as the hundreds of thousands of Australians who may be diagnosed in the future.

Whilst there is still a significant amount of work to be done, it is reassuring to see this legislation receiving broad support from across the parliament, the union movement and the medical profession. I want to acknowledge the opposition, who established the National Dust Disease Taskforce and are supporting this legislation. I very much hope this bipartisan approach to protecting the rights of Australian workers is continued into the future.

The National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry Bill is an important step in protecting Australian workers from silicosis and providing a framework for protection from similar diseases in future. It's about ensuring that Australians can return home safely from work every single day without risking their health now or in the future. I commend this bill to the House.

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