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committee Reports 

On 29 September 2017, the Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis Select Committee tabled Report No. 4, 55th Parliament - Inquiry into occupational respirable dust issues.  An interim response to the committee's report on occupational respirable dust issues was tabled on 15 December 2017 by the Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial Relations, Hon Grace Grace MP. The response can be accessed here.  

This followed on from the committee’s Black lung, white lies report on its inquiry into the re-identification of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) amongst coal mine workers in Queensland (see CWP inquiry webpage here). The final government response to the committee’s Black lung, white lies report was tabled on 8 September 2017 by the Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Hon Dr Anthony Lynham MP. The response can be accessed here. A previous, interim response, tabled on 29 August 2017, is available here.

The Parliament entrusted the committee with an ongoing role of monitoring and reviewing the implementation of any recommendations made by the committee in its inquiry reports, including the development of a draft Bill for the consideration of the Legislative Assembly. 

On 24 August 2017, the committee tabled a report presenting the committee's exposure draft bill for the establishment of a Mine Safety and Health Authority, to give effect to recommendations contained in the committee's Black lung, white lies inquiry report. In accordance with a recommendation of the committee, the Parliament referred the exposure draft bill to the Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee (IPNRC) for consideration and report. The IPNRC’s report on the draft bill, tabled on 5 October 2017, can be accessed here.

On 26 October 2017, the committee tabled a report outlining the committee’s response to both the IPNRC report and the final government response to the Black lung, white lies report. This report (No. 5) also identified promising areas of research to improve understanding and treatment of mine dust lung diseases, building on previous report recommendations in this regard.

The committee’s reports can be accessed below.

View:  Report No. 5, 55th Parliament, A Mine Safety and Health Authority for Queensland: A further response
View:  Report No. 4, 55th Parliament, Inquiry into occupational respirable dust issues
View:  Report No. 3, 55th Parliament, A Mine Safety and Health Authority for Queensland, including the committee's exposure draft Mine Safety and Health Authority Bill 2017     

The committee tabled its report on Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis (CWP), with an accompanying executive summary document, on 29 May 2017.

View:  Report No. 2, 55th Parliament, Black lung white lies: Inquiry into the re-identification of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis in Queensland
View:  Executive Summary, Report No. 2, 55th Parliament, Black lung white lies: Inquiry into the re-identification of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis in Queensland

The committee tabled an interim report on 22 March 2017.

View:  Report No. 1, 55th Parliament, Inquiry into the re-identification of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis in Queensland - Interim Report

ABOUT THE INQUIRY

The committee was asked to consider the following: 

(a) occupational respirable dust exposure for:

(i) coal port workers
(ii) coal rail workers
(iii) coal-fired power station workers
(iv) other workers

(b) the legislative and other regulatory arrangements of government and industry which have existed in Queensland to prevent or reduce the harm caused by occupational respirable dust exposure to port, rail, power station, and other workers
(c) whether these arrangements were adequate, and have been adequately and effectively maintained over time
(d) the roles of government departments and agencies, industry, health professionals and unions in these arrangements
(e) the efficacy and efficiency of adopting methodologies and processes for respirable dust measurement and mitigation, including monitoring regimes, engineering measures, personal protective equipment, statutory requirements, and industry policies and practices, including practices in jurisdictions with similar industries
(f) other matters the committee determines are relevant to occupational respirable coal or silica dust exposure.

The committee was also asked to monitor and review the implementation of recommendations made by the committee in its reports on:

     (a) the terms of reference approved by the House on 15 September 2016 (Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis (CWP))
     (b) the first extended terms of reference (Other occupational respirable dust issues

including the development of a draft bill for the consideration of the Assembly.

The committee was required to report to the Parliament on these matters by 29 September 2017.

The committee was to continue in existence on its ‘monitor and review’ terms of reference until the Legislative Assembly was dissolved or the Legislative Assembly otherwise ordered, despite any reports by the committee.

Submissions

Submissions closed on 23 June 2017.  
Submissions previously accepted by the committee as part of the first Inquiry into Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis, which contained content relevant to this Inquiry, were automatically considered as part of this Inquiry. 

Timeline