❓ Hon Peter Collier questions the government on extending presumptive cancer coverage for firefighters, including additional cancers and specific protections for women. The government will progress regulations for skin cancer and mesothelioma, but cites insufficient evidence for other cancers.
AnsweredQoN 340Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FIREFIGHTERS —
PRESUMED CANCERS
340. Hon PETER COLLIER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Industrial Relations:
I refer the minister to the request
of the United Firefighters Union of Australia to broaden the types of cancer
and for the inclusion of women when making workers compensation claims.
(1) Will the
Labor government include the eight additional cancers being sought by the union
for firefighters when making compensation claims; and, if not, why not?
(2) Will the Labor government extend the same level of
protection to women firefighters who contract ovarian and cervical cancer as already exists for male
firefighters who contract testicular cancer; and, if not, why not?
PRESUMED CANCERS
340. Hon PETER COLLIER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Industrial Relations:
I refer the minister to the request
of the United Firefighters Union of Australia to broaden the types of cancer
and for the inclusion of women when making workers compensation claims.
(1) Will the
Labor government include the eight additional cancers being sought by the union
for firefighters when making compensation claims; and, if not, why not?
(2) Will the Labor government extend the same level of
protection to women firefighters who contract ovarian and cervical cancer as already exists for male
firefighters who contract testicular cancer; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Industrial Relations, I thank the
member for some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided
by the Minister for Industrial Relations.
(1) WorkCover
commissioned an independent and up-to-date scientific review undertaken by an
expert epidemiologist that examined the
association between firefighting and the specific cancers that the United Firefighters
Union of Australia sought to have covered by a presumption. The United
Firefighters Union of Australia was
consulted on the terms of reference for the review and engaged as part of the
review by the expert epidemiologist.
The review identified a sufficient association between firefighting and two additional
cancers. The government will therefore progress presumptive regulations for
skin cancer and mesothelioma suffered by firefighters.
(2) The independent review concluded that at this time
there is insufficient scientific evidence for the inclusion of the other
cancers proposed.
secretary representing the Minister for Industrial Relations, I thank the
member for some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided
by the Minister for Industrial Relations.
(1) WorkCover
commissioned an independent and up-to-date scientific review undertaken by an
expert epidemiologist that examined the
association between firefighting and the specific cancers that the United Firefighters
Union of Australia sought to have covered by a presumption. The United
Firefighters Union of Australia was
consulted on the terms of reference for the review and engaged as part of the
review by the expert epidemiologist.
The review identified a sufficient association between firefighting and two additional
cancers. The government will therefore progress presumptive regulations for
skin cancer and mesothelioma suffered by firefighters.
(2) The independent review concluded that at this time
there is insufficient scientific evidence for the inclusion of the other
cancers proposed.
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