The Rockliff Liberal Government is again leading the way as the first Australian state to extend the list of presumptive cancers for fire-fighters.
Minister for Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs, Elise Archer, said a healthy firefighting workforce is critical to the safety of Tasmanians.
“While our firefighters have excellent training and equipment to protect them, not all hazards can be completely removed from their workplace,” she said.
“They are exposed to toxins in smoke, fuel and other hazardous materials at emergency incidents.”
Minister Archer has determined to include an additional eight cancers to the presumptive list, including: primary site cervical cancer; primary site ovarian cancer; primary site penile cancer; primary site thyroid cancer; primary site pancreatic cancer; primary site skin cancer; primary site lung cancer, and malignant mesothelioma.
“These hazards affect our female firefighters just as much as our male firefighters, yet our current laws only cover male reproductive cancers,” she said.
“Tasmania’s workers compensation laws will be changed as soon as possible to include these additional cancers on the presumptive list.”
“The health of our female fire-fighters is valued just as much as their male counterparts, and these changes are a clear signal that gender equity and fair compensation for fire-fighters injured at work matter and are priorities of the Rockliff Liberal Government,” Minister Archer said.
