The CFMEU has congratulated the Malinauskas Government on its strong pledge to ban engineered stone.
SA Labor has signalled it will implement a statewide ban on the deadly product, regardless of the outcome of next month’s federal, state and territory work health and safety ministerial meeting.
SA joins NSW in flagging statewide bans if a national agreement isn’t reached.
Governments in Queensland and Tasmania have thrown their support behind a national ban.
Major retailers Bunnings, IKEA and Mitre 10 have announced engineered stone will be phased out of their offerings.
A Safe Work Australia report confirmed there is no safe level of exposure to engineered stone and recommended a total ban.
Dust from cutting engineered stone contains high amounts of silica, which causes silicosis and other deadly diseases.
CFMEU National Secretary Zach Smith backed SA Labor’s position.
“Strong leadership saves lives – and that’s exactly what we’ve seen today in South Australia,” he said.
“All governments now have a moral obligation to follow this lead by locking in a national ban of engineered stone.
“There is an avalanche of public support behind the CFMEU’s campaign, which is now shaping political and business decisions to ban this deadly product.
“There is simply no need for any government to wait until next month to confirm what needs to be done today.
“Show you value Australian workers’ lives and make a full commitment to using whatever power you hold to ban the importation, use and manufacture of this killer stone.
“The CFMEU’s campaign will not stop until we have stopped this cosmetic product from ruining any more lives.”
