Peter Georgiou (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) silicosis is an incurable form of lung disease caused by exposure to toxic dust by breathing in unsafe levels of silica dust,

(ii) diseases due to silica exposure are serious and potentially lethal but totally preventable with the usage of correct safety provisions, and

(iii) there is growing concern about new cases of silicosis; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to:

(i) review industry standards, and

(ii) create a national dust disease register for workers, and more awareness in training institutions and workplaces.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government is deeply concerned about the re-emergence of the preventable disease silicosis. Safe Work Australia has prioritised action to address the risks posed by dust exposure in the workplace, including in the engineered stone industry. The agency is developing strategies to raise awareness of the duties and control measures for minimising respirable silica dust in the workplace. This includes reviewing the workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica, research into behavioural and cultural motivations to manage dust exposure in small and medium-sized enterprises in the stone industry, and developing a targeted awareness campaign for respirable dust in the workplace. Council Of Australian Governments health ministers have committed to requesting that the clinical principal committee consider creation of a national dust related diseases register including silicosis.

Question agreed to.