Queensland’s dust disease crisis deepened this year, with nearly 300 new cases of occupational lung illness recorded on the state’s official health register. The surge underscores continuing safety lapses in high-risk industries such as mining, construction and manufacturing.
Alarming Numbers From the Register
The Notifiable Dust Lung Disease Register, maintained by Queensland Health, added 292 new cases in the past year. These included:
- 121 cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- 96 cases of respiratory cancers
- 93 cases of pneumoconiosis, also known as “black lung.”
Six workers had already died by the time their illnesses were formally recorded. Most were over 60, though four were between 20 and 39 years old — a reminder that dust-related diseases are not confined to older workers.
Exposure sources were dominated by asbestos, followed by mixed dust, coal, and silica. Since 2019, nearly 1,929 workers have been listed in the register.
Workers Demand Accountability
Former miner Craig Keogh, who won a landmark $3.2 million black lung damages case in 2018, called the numbers “disgraceful.”
“That’s 292 death sentences,” Keogh said. “It destroys lives, careers, families — and it’s entirely preventable.”
Despite improvements in workplace safety education, Keogh and advocates argue that prevention measures remain inadequate. “Prevention is key,” he stressed.
Calls for Stronger Protections
Doctors and legal experts have condemned the persistent rise in cases. Dr Graeme Edwards, a senior occupational physician, said the existence of the register itself was “tragic,” given the diseases are “eminently preventable.”
Shine Lawyers’ Roger Singh described the trend as “appalling,” blaming “dereliction of duty” by employers and manufacturers. His firm alone is handling more than 100 active dust-related cases.
The Lung Foundation Australia called for tighter monitoring and more aggressive enforcement, with acting CEO Paige Preston saying: “These are vital industries, but more must be done to protect worker safety.”
National Implications
Silicosis remains a particular focus nationwide, with 41 new confirmed cases recorded in Queensland last year. With coal mining, tunneling and engineered stone cutting all linked to silica dust, the findings are likely to intensify pressure for tougher regulations and a possible nationwide ban on high-risk materials.
