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To: Amanda Rishworth, Sophie Cotsis, Ben Carrol, Jarrod Bleijie, Simone McGurk, Kyam Maher, Eric Abetz, Michael Pettersson, Robyn Cahill

Protect Welders Now, Back the New Aluminium Fumes Safety Limit

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union - National Office

Thanks to the more than 1200 people who signed our petition calling for the immediate reduction of the Workplace Exposure Limit for aluminium welding fumes.

Your support could quite literally save lives.

Because of you, Ministers and WorkSafe Commissioners across the country are hearing the message loud and clear: workers cannot wait any longer for this critical safety reform.

*Next steps*

Over the coming days, state and territory AMWU delegations will be meeting directly with Ministers to push for immediate action.

AMWU delegations in NSW and WA are seeking urgent meetings with their Ministers before the July 31 deadline to deliver the petition in person.

Follow AMWU socials for further updates:
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheAMWU/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theamwu/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/AMWUTV

Safe Work Australia has formally recommended that the Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) for aluminium welding fumes be reduced immediately from 5 mg/m³ to 1 mg/m³. This change brings the limit in line with the national standard already achieved for welding fumes (not otherwise classified) following strong and successful campaigning by AMWU members.

Delays will only lead to more preventable illnesses, long-term harm, and unsafe workplaces.

The science is clear. The solution is obvious. The time to act is now.

We are calling on Ministers to adopt Safe Work Australia’s recommendation in full, immediately, and without compromise.

Why is this important?

Exposure to aluminium welding fumes causes cancer, irreversible lung damage, and neurological harm. An immediate reduction to the WEL is critical to protect workers.

Despite the evidence available about the risks, and the Safe Work Australia recommendation, there are employers and government bureaucrats who have suggested a delayed implementation or to forgo the change altogether.

We cannot allow political resistance or delay to come before the health and safety of workers.

Ministers can decide on this matter any time between now and 31 July 2025. 

We need to make sure they hear directly from the people who are most affected. We need to make sure they hear directly from the people who are most affected – the workers and families who suffer the risks of exposure every day.

How it will be delivered

This petition will be delivered directly to the relevant Ministers.

Australia

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Updates

2025-08-08 10:09:30 +1000

Petition is successful with 1,274 signatures

2025-07-18 10:11:42 +1000

*Thank you*

Thanks to the more than 1200 people who signed our petition calling for the immediate reduction of the Workplace Exposure Limit for aluminium welding fumes.

Your support could quite literally save lives.

Because of you, Ministers and WorkSafe Commissioners across the country are hearing the message loud and clear: workers cannot wait any longer for this critical safety reform.

*Next steps*

Over the coming days, state and territory AMWU delegations will be meeting directly with Ministers to push for immediate action.

AMWU delegations in NSW and WA are seeking urgent meetings with their Ministers before the July 31 deadline to deliver the petition in person.

Follow AMWU socials for further updates:
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheAMWU/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theamwu/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/AMWUTV

2025-07-15 18:36:28 +1000

1,000 signatures reached

2025-07-15 14:00:45 +1000

500 signatures reached

2025-07-10 10:18:03 +1000

100 signatures reached

2025-07-10 09:56:16 +1000

50 signatures reached

2025-07-10 09:48:10 +1000

25 signatures reached

2025-07-10 09:45:03 +1000

10 signatures reached