Australia’s biggest property and construction companies will ban engineered stone from new developments as part of a landmark agreement with the construction union.
The CFMEU’s Stop This Killer Stone campaign now has the support of major companies including Lendlease Australia, John Holland, Mirvac and CBUS Property, retailers like Bunnings, IKEA and Mitre10, and the vast majority of state governments.
A Safe Work Australia report recommended a total ban of engineered stone because compliance measures haven’t been effective to date.
CFMEU National Secretary Zach Smith congratulated the companies for backing the ban.
“Some of the biggest property players in Australia are taking a strong stand that will save workers’ lives,” he said.
“Together with the CFMEU, these companies are helping us hammer another nail in engineered stone’s coffin.
“The fact that the likes of Lendlease, John Holland and Mirvac are no longer procuring this product for new projects backs up exactly what we’ve been saying all along.
“Engineered stone is a completely unnecessary product that is in no way integral to building.
“The engineered stone companies that profit from the lives of Australians are now completely isolated.
“Federal, state and territory ministers must agree on a total ban of the import, manufacture and use of engineered stone when they meet later this month.”
