The Queensland Parliament last week supported the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry into the re-emergence of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis in Queensland.
Known as ‘black lung’, the disease is caused by exposure to high coal dust levels.
The Labor Government’s move to establish an inquiry comes a month after it launched a new action plan to combat the disease after an independent review identified deficiencies in respiratory testing.
Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the select committee inquiry would be established within 30 days and will have the standard powers of a parliamentary committee to hear evidence, call witnesses, order documents, and will report back to the parliament.
“My first priority continues to be the concerted action underway now to tackle this insidious disease,” Dr Lynham said.
“A parliamentary select committee inquiry can only further inform our efforts to protect the health and safety of our 5500 underground coal workers.”
Dr Lynham said progress continued on tackling the re-emergence of the disease in line with the three pronged approach he announced with doctors, employers and union last month.
“Together we are focusing on prevention through dust management, early detection through better screening, and a safety net through workers’ compensation.
“Underground coal miners now have a screening guarantee – new chest Xrays, or rereading, of xrays that are less than two years old.
“We have a new double checking procedure, where xrays are read by an Australian radiologist to ILO standard and, as an interim measure, then by a US-based reader. The first 30 xrays to be read under this system have already been digitally transferred to the US.
“Current and past miners who visit their GP with concerns can be confident that their GP has received detailed information from Queensland’s Chief Medical Officer alerting them to the re-emergence of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis.
“Intensive training is being developed for the medical practitioners who conduct the health assessments of coal miners under the health scheme.
“Miners’ medical data will be captured and stored digitally. It is proposed that employers will be compulsorily required to report cases to government.”
The inquiry was supported by Katter’s Australian Party MPs Bob Katter and Shane Knuth, while the LNP opposition voted against it in favour of a Royal Commission.
Opposition leader Tim Nicholls said a Royal Commission would have had ‘far-reaching powers’ to determine why the disease has re-emerged in Queensland.
AREEA will keep members up-to-date with the establishment of the inquiry, its progress and opportunities provide input.
