Dust Diseases

The Hon. C. BONAROS (15:09): Supplementary: can the minister confirm for the record that he is continuing to consult with those legal experts regarding the issues that have been raised in relation to both section 18 and other sections regarding dust diseases, and is the Attorney-General committed to further reforms outside of section 18 to deal with those other issues that have been raised by the legal fraternity?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for her question. Yes, we certainly are continuing consultation. There are a number of consultees we have consulted who the honourable member has put us in contact with directly, to better inform us in relation to these issues. We are open to—we don't close ourselves off to any sensible reform.

We are continuing to consult on the work that is ongoing in relation to section 18 and dust diseases within the Return to Work scheme. As I said, hopefully by the end of this year, if not early next year, we will have work on section 18 including work on dust diseases. If there are other matters, and certainly there have been other matters raised, we are happy to look at them also.