The review of the Dust Diseases scheme was referred for the purposes of section 27 of the State Insurance and Care Governance Act 2015, where the Law and Justice Committee was designated to supervise the operation of the insurance and compensation schemes established under New South Wales workers’ compensation and motor accidents legislation. This year's review will focus on two key areas.

The first will be the support available to younger workers within the Scheme, including:

• How younger workers can readily access appropriate supports to maintain or extend their working life in suitable duties,

• When this is not possible due to dust disease, how the Scheme can provide financial supports commensurate to their situation in flexible ways, and

• Related medical, care and treatment supports for them, and when appropriate, their families.

The second focus will be other risk areas for silicosis, including, but not limited to, tunnelling and quarrying.

Please note that the Committee's role is to review the operation of the Workers' Compensation (Dust Diseases) Scheme. It will not be investigating or reviewing any individual claims.