Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Answers to Questions Dust-borne Diseases Dust-borne Diseases The Hon. C. BONAROS Legislative Council Dust-borne Diseases In reply to the Hon. C. BONAROS ().18 March 2025). The Hon. K.J. MAHER Legislative Council Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Attorney-General Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector Special Minister of State Dust-borne Diseases The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State): I have been advised: In response to question 1: On 1 September 2024, South Australia amended the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA) to strengthen controls about the processing of materials containing silica. Specifically, regulation 529A(1)(e) now governs tunnelling through crystalline silica substances. SafeWork SA enforces compliance with these regulations and is actively engaged with the River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) alliance project as part of its major projects campaign for 2025-26. While preliminary works have commenced, tunnelling operations using boring machines are not expected to begin until May/June 2026. The tunnelling method proposed for South Australia differs significantly from that used in New South Wales. South Australia will employ a wet cutting method at the boring machine's face, which significantly reduces the risk of airborne dust exposure. Additionally, South Australian soil profiles generally contain significantly lower silica quartz content compared to Sydney's, further reducing potential exposure risks. In response to question 2: SafeWork SA has implemented a range of measures aimed at mitigating exposure to dust-borne diseases, particularly those associated with crystalline silica. As part of the 2025-25 construction industry targeted campaigns, SafeWork SA is currently conducting a crystalline silica substances campaign to monitor compliance with recent amendments to the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA). In addition to proactive compliance monitoring, SafeWork SA responds to silica-related complaints and notifiable incidents. SafeWork SA also provides education support through its advisory service, offering guidance and information to businesses and undertakings working with silica and engineered stone. Further to this, I also receive advice from the Mining and Quarrying Occupational Health and Safety Committee (MAQOHSC), established under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA). MAQOHSC has a longstanding history of supporting dust exposure controls in the quarry and mining sectors and has expressed interest in sharing its expertise with tunnelling projects, particularly in relation to dust control technologies. MAQOHSC continues to support worker education and offers lung screening for at-risk workers. MAQOHSC's five-year strategy, published on its website, outlines its commitment to supporting smaller persons conducting a business or undertaking with silica exposure risks. Several MAQOHSC members also participate in the newly established State Silica Working Group coordinated by SafeWork SA. This ensures strong cross-sectoral collaboration and support for workplaces where dust exposure risks may occur, including those involved in tunnelling operations. In response to question 3: Over the past five years, 33 workers in South Australia have had accepted silicosis claims. These workers were primarily engaged across multiple industry sectors involving the use of engineered stone products, with no specific projects identified as being directly linked to their diagnoses.