COMMUNIQUÉ Meeting of Work Health and Safety Ministers 27 October 2023
1 . Commonwealth , state and territory work health and safety ( WHS ) Ministers met today to discuss a range of important issues impacting the health and safety of workers .
2 . The meeting was chaired by the Hon Tony Burke MP , Commonwealth Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations .
Silicosis
3 . Ministers affirmed their continued commitment to preventing worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica .
4 . At their previous meeting on 28 February 2023 , WHS Ministers requested Safe Work Australia prepare a further report on the impacts of a prohibition on the use of engineered stone under the model WHS laws , following agreement to a range of regulatory and non-regulatory reforms to better protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica .
5 . Ministers noted the delivery of Safe Work Australia ’ s Decision Regulation Impact Statement : Prohibition on the use of engineered stone ( Decision RIS ) and thanked Safe Work Australia for its work in preparing the report .
6 . For further information on the Decision RIS , please refer to Safe Work Australia ’ s website .
7 . Ministers discussed the detailed analysis in the Decision RIS and acknowledged the need for careful Ministerial consideration of the broader impacts a prohibition on the use of engineered stone may have on workers and businesses in the industry , as well as consumers .
8 . Ministers agreed to the publication of the Decision RIS , noting the increased public interest in the report , to ensure public debate is informed by the expert analysis set out in the report ahead of agreeing a national policy position .
9 . Ministers discussed the need for clear and accessible information to inform public debate , and agreed to request Safe Work Australia lead national coordination of WHS communications to support the publication of the Decision RIS .
10 . Ministers acknowledged the importance of addressing engineered stone workers ’ exposure to respirable crystalline silica and the significance of the findings set out in the Decision RIS . Ministers agreed to meet again before the end of 2023 to settle a position on the options set out in the Decision RIS .
Workplace fatalities
11 . Ministers agreed to a discussion in 2024 on whether further work by Safe Work Australia is needed to improve the framework for investigating and prosecuting workplace deaths , and support for families following a workplace fatality .