Silicosis

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:05): My question is to the Treasurer: can he update the chamber on the government's response to addressing issues relating to silicosis?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:05): I thank the honourable member for his question. I think I indicated when last this question was addressed by some members that I would update the house as new information became available. I will not repeat what I previously shared with the chamber in relation to the work of the Mining and Quarrying Occupational Health and Safety Committee, ReturnToWorkSA and SafeWork SA, but in terms of recent developments I convened a meeting recently of those three bodies, together with SA Health, to receive a presentation in relation to the issue of a dust diseases register.

Members will be aware that earlier this year the federal government announced $5 million to establish a national dust diseases task force, referred to as the national task force. There have been discussions between health ministers in relation to this issue. There is an ongoing debate or discussion ensuing in relation to the appropriate nature of a potential register and issues in relation to whether or not it is a national one or a state one, whilst we wait for a national one to be developed or not.

Then it is an issue in relation to the nature of the information that might be encapsulated on a particular register in simple terms—and the academics and technicians will use different language, but in simple terms for a simple minister like my good self—in essence, persons who might be diagnosed with silicosis, for example, or a dust disease, or in relation to a more comprehensive register that might monitor the ongoing measurements in terms of exposure to potential dust diseases. Clearly, one is much more complex in terms of what information might be recorded, issues in relation to whether possibly affected workers might want information kept confidential or shared, so there are much more complicated issues in relation to the latter type of register.

At that most recent meeting with those four bodies or agencies we had some broad discussions. I have undertaken to collaborate with my colleague the Minister for Health in terms of his views and his agency's views in relation to this. From the government's viewpoint we do see this as an important initiative in terms of progressing it, and whether that be as a state-based register in the first instance, leading towards a national register, or whether we wait for the national register, is an ongoing discussion.

Finally, SafeWork SA has advised me that I think at some stage later this week a report on their recent audit, which was conducted last financial year, in terms of potential silicosis exposure in the engineered stone industry and other industry sectors, will be made publicly available on their website. That information will be available to those who are interested in this important issue in relation to the work that has been undertaken and the commitment that I have given on behalf of the government in terms of coordinating this loose group of agencies that are working together in terms of a coordinated response to what everyone is acknowledging is a most important issue. It is certainly being acknowledged by all states and territories, whether they be Labor or Liberal; they are all responding in differing ways.

Interestingly, I conclude by saying some jurisdictions seem to have significantly larger numbers of workers identified with silicosis. Whether that is because there is a greater prevalence of silicosis in those states, such as Queensland, or whether it is other factors—that is, that they have identified the number of impacted workers earlier or more effectively—are issues of shared interest amongst all jurisdictions.

I assure both the honourable member and other members in this chamber, who I know are very interested in this issue, that the government is treating this as an important issue and one in which there needs to be a coordinated response. I believe there is now much closer to a coordinated response from government—that all the agencies that do have an ongoing potential role in this are collaborating and working together as effectively as possible.