February 25, 2026
This February, the Mining and Energy Union Queensland District proudly hosted over 100 trade unionists and mine safety experts from across the globe for an intensive week-long conference on the dangers of mine dust lung diseases. This year marks ten years since Black Lung was re-detected in the Queensland coalfields and is the third Global Dust Conference we’ve held to address the issue.
We met with leading mine safety experts from around the world, as well as doctors, researchers and lawmakers to share our experiences and build a framework of best practices that can be applied to mines across jurisdictions.
We celebrated the significant progress we’ve made in the prevention and screening of mine dust lung diseases, having secured lower dust limits for our mines, and mandatory screening across Queensland. These reforms have ensured that mineworkers are exposed to less risk while at work, and in cases where black lung has developed, are made aware early to ensure that the disease is prevented from worsening.
From the outset, this conference has taken an international perspective to the fight against mine dust lung diseases because of the risk it proses to all mineworkers regardless of country of origin. This year, we heard from representatives from the US, India, Poland, Mongolia, and across Africa, with the hope that they will take the best standards we’ve developed and apply them to their own industries.
We were also greatly impressed to learn of the massive improvements in other countries, such as South Africa, which has applied the lessons we’ve shared over the last conferences to their own fight against dust diseases. South Africa now has protections comparable to Queensland, and we congratulate the National Union of Mineworkers in their success in improving standards.
While prevention remains at the forefront, this year’s conference featured a renewed focus on the treatment and care of workers affected by dust diseases. Once Black Lung has developed it is a life sentence, and we must lift our standards of ongoing treatment care for workers affected by this terrible condition.
We also heard from United States medical experts on the improvements made to screening technology, as well as programs developed to improve the lifespan and quality of life of those suffering from Black Lung and other dust diseases. We are looking closely at applying these methods here in Queensland, and you can expect some advocacy around it from us in the near future.
Unfortunately, these American experts also shared how devastating the Trump administration has been to mine health and safety standards in the USA, with the administrations DOGE cuts gutting the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, or NIOSH, the world-leading research centre for occupational diseases. These cuts had real tangible effects on the ground, with dozens of respiratory testing centres shutting down and ceasing service without government subsidy. This is a terrifying backslide, the inverse of what we’ve been pushing for in Queensland and demonstrates the importance of fighting for health and safety in the political sphere.
The conference resolved to assess any rehabilitation programs in place for effected workers and lobby for their improvement as well as to assist international affiliates with developing and improving their own standards around dust safety.
On behalf of the MEU Queensland District, I would like to thank all of our guests from Australia and overseas. I sincerely hope you are returning to your mines with information that will improve safety and save lives.
Mitch Hughes
Queensland District President