10 May 2024
Hon Madeleine Ogilvie MP, Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs

Transitioning to a prohibition on engineered stone in Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government is committed to implementing the prohibition on the manufacture, supply and processing of engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs in Tasmania from 1 July 2024.

The safety of workers is paramount, and this prohibition will protect workers from future exposures to the dangerous dust that is produced through work with engineered stone.

The ban will affect small businesses and homeowners in Tasmania.

To ease this impact, Tasmania will be adopting the nationally agreed six-month transition period for contracts entered into before 31 December 2023.

During the transition period, work involving the manufacture, supply or processing of the engineered stone products will not be prohibited as long as the contract for the work was entered into before 31 December 2023 and the work is finished by 31 December 2024.

After 31 December 2024, the prohibition will take full force and no work can be undertaken on the manufacture, supply or processing of engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs.

The Tasmanian Government continues to consult with key stakeholders on the ban and its impact on industry.

For clarity, engineered stone that contains less than 1% crystalline silica is not included in the ban, nor are:

• concrete and cement products
• bricks, pavers and other similar blocks
• ceramic wall and floor tiles
• grout, mortar and render
• plasterboard
• porcelain products
• sintered stone
• roof tiles.