Engineered Stone

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:58): Supplementary: minister, do the guidelines from SafeWork SA give any detail as to how the matter should be handled in the future, that is, for installations that have occurred in the past?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:58): I thank the honourable member for the question. That is a really good question. Legacy products or in situ products are going to need to be dealt with. I know Safe Work Australia, working in conjunction with regulators like SafeWork SA, are developing those sorts of guidelines. Because of course engineered stone has been a major feature for some years right around Australia in the housing industry, there are many, many products that are already installed, so guidelines are now being prepared for particularly the removal of engineered stone but, if necessary, the working with engineered stone that is already in situ.

In addition to any guidelines that will be developed and put in place, they need to be looking at a licensing system similar to the licensing of being able to work with asbestos, but on top of all of that there is still a requirement under all states' work health and safety legislation for an employer, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), to provide a safe workplace for those who work for them.