A national registry will be established for deadly workplace respiratory diseases as the federal government seeks to tackle the prevalence of silicosis.
If passed, the law will require mandatory reporting of the disease, which affects nearly one-in-four engineered stone workers in the industry before 2018.
But the peak union representing workers wants a ban on engineered stone to eradicate the disease.
Products with high silica levels – commonly used in kitchen and bathroom benches—have been linked to incurable lung disease silicosis and cancer.
Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearney said every case of silicosis was unacceptable.
Introducing the proposal to parliament, she told the story of Joanna, a 34-year-old mother of two who worked at a quarry run by a large multinational company….