Protesters demand ban on ‘killer stone’

New South Wales CFMEU members have gathered outside NSW Parliament chanting “killer stone, ban it now!”.

The protest comes ahead of Friday’s federal and state work health and safety ministers meeting.

State Secretary of NSW CFMEU, Darren Greenfield, put forward a call to action to ministers to ban engineered stone.

“We call on these ministers from every state in this country that we f**king put there and the federal minister when they sit at the table tomorrow to come forward, stand up, have a backbone, and get rid of this stone,” he said.

“If they want to go down a different road they’re going to have blood on their hands.”

He added, “how f***ing good is this” in another address to the crowd.

“We’ve got members walking off their jobs from inter-state. They’re here to teach these politicians in here behind us (that) we’re not going to cop this stone.”

The past week has seen several calls to ban engineered stone with concerns over silicosis, an incurable lung disease that causes inflammation and scarring of lung tissue.

The disease is caused by inhaling silica dust, and can leave people with symptoms such as a cough, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing for as long as years after being exposed.

The disease is also linked to other conditions including lung cancer, kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to the Cancer Council.

Additionally, an estimated 230 people per year develop lung cancer as a result of silica dust exposure.
Zach Smith, the National Secretary of CFMEU, spoke passionately about the campaign to ban engineered stone at today’s protest.

“The price of failure on this campaign is inconceivable, we cannot lose this campaign and we will not lose this campaign, because the cost of losing this campaign is written in human life,” he told protesters.

“In all but the rarest of situations that diagnosis is a death sentence. This product is killing workers now,” he claimed.

“The fact that we have to hit the streets is a disgrace in itself. It’s a moral failure of our governments and our society that we have to stand and take this action.”

The Royal Australian College of GPs says those diagnosed with silicosis lose an average of almost 12 years of life.

More than 275,000 workers — primarily tradies — have been exposed to high levels of silica dust, according to a Curtin University report.

John Setka, CFMEU’s Victorian State Secretary, called silicosis “the new asbestos” as he called for change.

“It’s up to us in the end to do what we do, to preserve life and to save people’s lives and make sure people go home to their families,” he said.

“This silicosis is the new asbestos. Let’s not make the same mistake as what they did with asbestos.”

When asked about a silica ban in a press conference this morning, NSW Premier Chris Minns acknowledged that it’s a “big problem”.

The Premier said that a major report and inquiry will be released by the Commonwealth, Safe Work Australia tomorrow, which he said will feature “major recommendations for all states”.

“But I do appreciate that workers in particular are saying the clock is ticking. They’re working with this engineered stone today,” he added.

“And we’re going to wait one day to see what that report has to say. And then we’ll make a decision about the next steps, but I just want to say, I acknowledge it’s a big problem.”

He continued, saying that working with engineered stone is a “massive issue for long term respiratory illnesses” and that the number of people potentially affected is “very, very high”.

“We’re not talking to single digits in terms of percentages, but a large number of people that work in that industry could be permanently affected, so major change is coming.

“I want to see the national report and then we’ll have to say if we can’t get a national agreement on change.

Earlier in the press conference Minns said that a national agreement is “better to do” because engineered stone is imported into the country.

“…And if there’s a difference between jurisdictions, particularly on the borders, that could be a problem,” he said.

Earlier in the week ACTU Assistant Secretary Liam O’Brien claimed manufacturers and importers of engineered stone have “known about the risk” of engineered stone, but have failed to take necessary steps or warn and protect Australian workers.

“Even today, we continue to see dust-filled factories exposing workers to the risk of silicosis,” he said.

“Today, the ACTU executive sends a clear message that governments should ban this harmful fashion product.”

The ACTU is also calling for a national health monitoring and silicosis screening to be introduced for workers exposed to the dust as well as “adequate compensation and support for affected workers”.

— More to come

— with Jack Evans.