Minns Labor Government welcomes review recommendations to keep workers safe from dust diseases

The comprehensive review focused on improving the scheme’s support for younger workers and ensuring that those diagnosed with dust diseases are treated fairly and in a way that reflects the modern needs of workers and their families. The review also identifies how at-risk workers can be protected while at work.

The review’s recommendations will guide reforms that better protect workers in high-risk industries such as construction, mining, and tunnelling.

Key recommendations include career and educational counselling, with support continuing throughout retraining, even if workers gain paid employment during the course.

Other recommendations include:

• expanded vocational services, including job-seeking assistance and personalised career support, particularly for younger workers
• a working group, convened by icare within six months, bringing together unions, employer groups, health experts and support organisations to design retraining and education programs for affected workers
• enhanced mental health support for workers and families, integrated into standard claims management, and culturally and linguistically tailored
• legislative changes to improve fairness, including removing the requirement that exposure to dust occur entirely in NSW to receive full benefits and including new dust-related conditions, such as silica-induced autoimmune and airways diseases, mycobacterial diseases, and chronic renal disease and ensuring weekly benefits align with those in other states and territories
• that the NSW Government strengthen SafeWork NSW's role in resolving disputes under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 between authorised entry permit holders and persons conducting a business or undertaking to facilitate the provision of documents to workplace entry permit holders if there is suspected contravention.

Additionally, the review calls for:

• a national dialogue with the Commonwealth to preserve pension or non-monetary entitlements for dust disease sufferers on workers’ compensation
• an accreditation framework for health monitoring providers
• a requirement that lung testing results be shared with icare to improve surveillance and follow-up.

This report reaffirms the actions of the Minns Labor Government to protect workers from deadly dust diseases.

Actions undertaken include:

• Establishing an Expert Taskforce to oversee and help address silica related health risks for workers in tunnelling projects. The Taskforce, made up of government, medical, industry and union representatives, provides expert guidance to prevent and manage silica and other dust related disease associated with tunnelling projects in NSW
• A world-first domestic ban on the use, supply and manufacture of engineered stone products in Australia that started on 1 July 2024.
• Funding a team of dedicated silica safety inspectors. Since September, the $2.5 million investment has seen a Silica Compliance Team conduct multiple inspections and issue prohibition notices in tunnelling.
• The launch of a new $2.5 million state-of-the -art Lung Health Mobile Clinic which is providing lung health checks to thousands of people in regional New South Wales.

The Government will consider the recommendations of the report.

Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis said:

“No worker should face the devastating impact of a dust disease without support. These recommendations give us a path forward to make sure all workers can access medical, financial, mental health and vocational assistance, and transition into new careers if needed.

"The Minns Labor Government is committed to working with unions, employers, icare and the Commonwealth to ensure all workers can feel safe, supported and secure.

“We welcome the report and thank the committee and the many experts and representatives that lodged submissions and attended hearings.”