National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry 2023

# National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry 2023 ## What it does The government is creating a national database to track people who develop lung diseases from their work — like asbestos-related conditions, silicosis, or occupational asthma. Doctors diagnosing or treating these diseases will need to report cases to this registry. The registry will help identify patterns and hotspots where workers are getting sick. ## Why it matters Right now, there's no centralised way to track occupational lung diseases across Australia, so we can't see the full picture of which industries or workplaces are causing harm. This registry should help protect future workers by spotting dangerous conditions earlier and holding employers accountable. ## Key details - **Who reports**: Doctors (both those diagnosing and treating occupational respiratory diseases) must notify the registry. Doctors can also be asked to provide extra information about patients if needed. - **What's protected**: The bill includes strict rules on who can access the data and prohibits unauthorised sharing. There are penalties for people who improperly disclose information, though exceptions exist for sharing with the person affected or the doctor who provided the information. - **Coverage**: The registry applies across all Australian states, territories, and external territories — it's a coordinated national system.

🔒 Voting closed — this bill has been decided by parliament