The State and Federal Governments are accused of ‘kicking the can down the road’ as they delay imposing a ban on lethal engineered stone benchtops.

The decision follows a harrowing Safe Work Australia report from August linking the common material to the fatal silicosis disease, prompting urgent calls from health experts and unions for an immediate ban.

Despite the report’s stark warnings, state and federal ministers argue for a more measured, nationally unified approach, leaving workers in the industry at risk.

NSW Minister for Work, Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis, admitted, “There is no toxicological evidence of a safe threshold of crystalline silica”

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