The Greens urge for frequency of black lung screening to be increased

Both major parties have sidestepped a push for a commitment to expand free black lung screening that came from an unlikely place.

BLACK LUNG: Percy Verrall was diagnosed with black lung disease in 2015. He was the first Australian diagnosed with the disease in 30 years.

There are calls for the frequency of black lung screening to be increased and for the free program to be expanded to all former coal workers.

The Greens have written to the Premier Steven Miles and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli ahead of the 2024 state election in October, urging them to commit to broadening eligibility for black lung screening to include former railway, port and power station workers, and increasing testing frequency from five to two years.

Black lung disease, or coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, remains a serious and persistent health issue for Queensland coal workers and free lung checks are available to those who have at least three years’ experience in Queensland coal mines, minerals mines or quarries and are no longer working in the industry.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli and Queensland Premier Steven Miles.

Currently, former coal mine and quarry workers are able to access free screening for mine dust lung diseases every five years, often via the HEART 5 mobile unit or ‘black lung bus’, which services regional and remote Queensland.

But that service is not available to former workers who handled or transported coal, like railway, port and power station workers.

“Coal workers, including those who work on ports and railways, deserve our support, but they’re being denied the healthcare they need by the current government,” Gladstone-based Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne said.

Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne is pushing for an expansion to black lung testing in Queensland. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

“In my community of Gladstone, this is a clear and present danger – not just for workers in coal mines, but also for those who transport it to the port, and those who work in coal-fired power stations.

“Labor and the LNP should commit to broadening this program so that anyone who is at risk of black lung can get the healthcare they need.”

Neither major party committed to changing the current screening program.

But LNP natural resources and mines spokesman Dale Last said it was not working and “all options are on the table because, clearly, the status quo is not good enough”.

Mr Last said it was not possible to commit to expanding the program without all of the facts and figures to identify why the current scheme is not working.

LNP natural resources and mines spokesman and Burdekin MP Dale Last has condemned the current black lung testing regime. Picture: Chris Burns

“Funding for screening comes from both the government and industry itself and, if the current system is not working, it’s up to the government to explain where that funding is going,” he said.

“It is issues like this that were behind my calls for a parliamentary inquiry on mine safety and worker health back in 2019 which was blocked by Labor, the Greens and the KAP.”

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace condemned the Greens for “stoking fear”, saying “Queensland already makes free and comprehensive dust lung disease testing available to current and former workers”.

Industrial Relations Grace Grace MP, speaking in Queensland Parliament, has accused the Greens of stoking fear over the black lung. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

“Queensland employers have an obligation to ensure current workers are monitored and tested for dust lung diseases, including for black lung disease.

“In addition to this, the Miles Government has arrangements in place to ensure eligible former workers from coal-related industries - including rail and ports where coal is transported - have access to free screening and early diagnosis of mine dust lung diseases through WorkCover Queensland as required.”

Maiwar Greens MP Michael Berkman said he called on both Labor and the LNP to commit to funding this necessary and common-sense expansion of black lung detection services should they form government in October.

Maiwar MP Michael Berkman.

“Coal communities have literally powered the country for decades, often at great risk to their health – the least the government can do is ensure that anyone at risk of developing black lung can access testing easily and for free,” he said.

“If Labor and the LNP want to stand next to coal workers for press conferences and election ads, they should listen to them when they ask for help fighting this deadly disease.”