Thousands of Queensland miners may be diagnosed with Black Lung in the coming years as the system catches up with decades of inaction on the issue.
That's the belief of Queensland Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller, who was the chair of the committee tasked with investigating the re-emergence of what was believed to be an eradicated disease.
The Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Select Committee handed down its report on Monday, making 68 recommendations, including the establishment of an independent authority to oversee safety in the sector in future.
But Ms Miller said with 30 years' worth of under-reporting and misdiagnosis, there will be many affected workers identified in the months and years ahead.
"There's a long latency period before people are disagnosed with Black Lung, so it could be 10, 15, 20 years or it could be two years," she told AAP.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"We've got 21 miners who've been diagnosed with Black Lung, but we're expecting there could be hundreds, if not thousands, diagnosed in the future."
The inquiry's work isn't done, with the committee given extended terms of reference to investigate possible health effects on other workers, in particular those on Brisbane's numerous tunnel projects who could be at risk of silicosis, a condition similar to Black Lung.
A second report into those expanded terms of reference is due on September 29.
Headed by Ms Miller and former LNP leader Lawrence Springborg, the committee was granted sweeping powers to draft its own legislation on issues surrounding Black Lung, with reforms expected to be introduced to state parliament in August.
