The Tunnelling Dust Safety Taskforce met for its third meeting on 20 August 2025. Janet Schorer, Commissioner SafeWork NSW, chaired the meeting.
The NSW Minister for Industrial Relations & Work Health and Safety, the Hon Sophie Cotsis MP, attended the meeting. The Minister acknowledged the tabling of the 2024 Review of the Dust Diseases Scheme on 20 June 2025 and noted the Government’s response. The Minister was pleased to note that several of the recommendations made by the Committee have already been progressed by the Government, including through the work of the Taskforce.
The Minister provided an overview and update of the NSW Government’s legislative reforms to improve workplace safety, particularly relating to silica. This includes the Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment (Workplace Protections) Act 2025, which includes amendments to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to expand entry permit holder rights to inspect suspected contraventions of the Act, set enforceable minimum standards for work health and safety under codes of practices, and boost information sharing between government agencies and regulators. The Minister also confirmed that the regulation to operationalise the Silica Worker Register has been made and will come into effect on 1 October 2025. The Silica Worker Register will enable increased health screening and monitoring of workers involved in high-risk processing of silica.
Taskforce members discussed with the Minister whether a silicosis awareness campaign was needed. With recent media attention, contractor evidence from the dust diseases scheme review, and industry survey feedback, members agreed awareness is high, and the priority should now be on action. Kate Cole OAM noted that she had conducted a survey with key stakeholders in the tunnelling industry including workers, contractors, clients and occupational hygienists. The survey revealed a mismatch between high levels of awareness but lower levels of action. The survey supported that the critical step to take is to improve control measures and working environments in tunnels. Mrs Cole undertook to present on the survey results at the next Taskforce meeting.
Dr Deborah Yates delivered a presentation on improving communication and systems for notification with the healthcare sector. Dr Yates highlighted the challenges medical practitioners face in being able to communicate with SafeWork NSW and also in reporting notifiable diseases to NSW Health. Members discussed this point and made comments and recommendations for ways to address this challenge. SafeWork NSW undertook to investigate this matter and identify opportunities for improving these processes.
Kate Cole OAM tabled a paper on data sharing. The paper outlined the importance of streamlining data collection requirements to support research and clinical practice in treating workers with silica-related disease. Members discussed the need for data to be stored in a central repository so it can be easily accessed. The next step is to develop a proposal for formal decision on the issues raised by the paper.
Transport for NSW delivered a presentation on Sydney Metro. The presentation covered the key controls in place for managing work health and safety risks relating to silica dust. Members discussed the importance of incorporating these learnings in the Tunnels Under Construction Code of Practice revision that SafeWork NSW is currently undertaking with key stakeholders.
Members undertook to provide written updates on progress against the 10-Point Action Plan following the meeting.
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