Delayed laws leave firefighters without protection from work related cancers

Today during Question Time, Abigail asked the Treasurer if they were withholding legislation to protect firefighters against the public statements of a Government spokesperson.

Abigail said:

My question without notice is directed to the Treasurer. In the last parliamentary sitting, this Chamber expressed its strong intent to support the expansion of the presumption in favour of liability of certain cancers for firefighters seeking workers compensation. During that debate, on 10 September, the Treasurer said:

… the Government looks forward to bringing its own proposals to Parliament at the appropriate time …

On 27 September a News Corp article quoted a Government spokesperson as saying that Labor would introduce the new laws "at the next Parliamentary sitting". In response to the earlier question from the Leader of the Opposition, the Treasurer said that, "We stand by what I said on 10 September" when it comes to the introduction of Government legislation to expand presumptive cancers. Is the Treasurer withholding legislation to protect firefighters against the public statements of a Government spokesperson?

The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY (Treasurer): No.

ABIGAIL BOYD: I ask a supplementary question. Will the Treasurer please elucidate his answer of "No"? Cathy McQuade, the widow of firefighter Andrew McQuade, who died from lung cancer at age 61 last May after working for decades at Fire and Rescue NSW, including in his last role as a hazardous materials officer, is campaigning for the expansion of presumptive cancers for firefighters after Andrew was denied compensation. In the 27 September article featuring Cathy McQuade, a Government spokesperson, no doubt attempting to hose down media attention on the bill, was quoted as saying that it would introduce the new laws "at the next Parliamentary sitting", being this sitting. As the Government has not brought the new laws to this sitting, will the Treasury clarify whether that was a misstatement?

The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY (Treasurer): My primary answer was straightforward, and pretty easy to understand. The question that was put to me was whether I am blocking it. The answer is no.

Read the transcript in Hansard here.

23 October 2025

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Electricity is an essential service. But Labor and Liberal governments have sold off NSW’s energy assets and infrastructure, leaving us at the mercy of the private sector for our energy needs. The result has been soaring energy bills, with more and more people being forced into energy poverty.

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