An enquiry being pushed for by Liberal Senator Gary Humphries and Democrats leader Lyn Allison into the effects of silicosis wouldn’t turn up anything new or alarming.

Silicosis is a respiratory disease caused by the inhalation of silica dust. It can cause emphysema, lung cancer and associated heart conditions.

Last week Senator Humphries said one outcome of a Senate inquiry could be an industry compensation fund for workers suffering from silicosis.

However, GM of Corporate Affairs at Allianz Nicholas Scofield says there has never been any restriction on claiming workers’ compensation for silicosis.

“A large number of people have always been able to seek compensation through the Dust Diseases Tribunal,” he said. “The annual reports of the tribunal have data for the number of silicosis claims as well as asbestos.”

Mr Scofield says the timing of the Senators’ demands for an inquiry was interesting, but it’s likely the minor parties are trying to get it launched before the Senate gains the balance of power on July 1.

Silicosis mainly affected workers from the 1960s and 1970s in the sectors of mining, construction, shipping, tunnelling, spray painting, glass manufacturing, ceramics and cement production where they were exposed to silica particles because they did not use protective equipment while sandblasting.