CFMEU National Secretary Zach Smith statement regarding Work Health and Safety Ministers' Meeting today:
“The CFMEU welcomes confirmation engineered stone will be banned from July 1 after our union’s successful Stop This Killer Stone campaign.
“Federal, state and territory governments have backed our call to ban the importation, use and manufacture of engineered stone.
“Federal Workplace Minister Tony Burke should be congratulated for showing leadership that will save lives.
“Our union is deeply concerned evil manufacturers are rebranding engineered stone under other names in a bid to keep profiting from the deaths of workers. Deadly engineered stone products should not be allowed to hide under new fake names.
“The Victorian government is leading the way by sticking to a hard cut-off date of July 1 for the ban and we expect other states and territories to follow.
“There is zero need to extend the implementation period for the ban. Any day we wait is another day dust diseases death sentences will be handed to workers exposed to engineered stone.
“The CFMEU has been clear that members will be banned from using engineered stone from July 1.
“There are absolutely no surprises here. Our campaign has been very clear. Workplace health and safety ministers have been very clear.
“Any attempt to stand in the way or delay this ban needs to be called out for what it is: a shameless bid to kill more workers.
“No worker should contract a deadly dust disease from working with engineered stone after that date.”
Contact details:
Matt Coughlan 0400 561 480 / matt@hortonadvisory.com.au