The SA Greens welcome the Malinauskas Government’s decision to ban the use of engineered stone, guaranteeing their Parliamentary support for this imperative action. The Greens support would guarantee passage of any Government legislation to affect such a ban.
According to a 2021 report by the Government's National Dust Disease Taskforce, nearly one in four workers exposed to silica dust from manufactured stone before 2018 have been diagnosed with silicosis.
In December 2022, a Greens bill to ban any work that would expose people to dangerous crystalline silica dust was referred to inquiry by the Parliamentary Committee on Occupational Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation.
Quotes attributable to Tammy Franks MLC:
“All legislators should be putting the lives of workers above the desire for shiny kitchen benchtops.”
It took 70 years for Australia to ban all forms of asbestos. We cannot continue to expose workers and residents to respirable silica dust when we know that there are no safe levels of exposure. Control measures have consistently failed. We have to try something else. We have to act.”
“Silicosis is already killing workers with young families, affecting people whose entire lives should be ahead of them. Estimates hold that 230 people per year develop lung cancer as a result of silica dust exposure at work. It is pleasing to see SA Labor taking a stand to protect current and future workers”.