PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland Parliament has appointed a six-person Parliamentary Select Committee to probe the re-emergence of the Black Lung disease in the state.

A total of 15 people have been diagnosed with the disease so far, with workers union CFMEU claiming that it is aware of more cases, especially among coal workers not wanting to put their jobs at risk by coming forward.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham said on Friday that a focused Parliamentary Select Committee inquiry would build on what had already been learned from an independent review and a Senate inquiry.

“We’re now tackling this disease on three fronts – prevention, early detection and a safety net for workers with this disease,” he said.

“A lot more remains to be done, but with coordinated action, combined purpose and a sound scientific basis, we have already made significant progress. An inquiry will add to what we already know from the independent Monash University review and the Senate inquiry.

“It will all help to ensure that every one of these 5 500 workers is safe into the future because coal workers have every right to go home safely every night to their families.”

In July, the Queensland government released a report into a review of the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme, which revealed “major system failures at virtually all levels” of the design and operation of the respiratory component of the scheme.

Lynham at the time acknowledged weaknesses in the Australian system and announced that all new X-rays would be checked by an Australian radiologist and by US-based accredited X-ray readers, until local radiologists underwent further training to the international standard.

The state government's new three-pronged strategy focuses on the prevention of new cases, early detection through better screening and a safety net for miners with coal workers’ pneumoconiosis.