Opening the policy window: how Australia banned engineered stone

This case study applies Kingdon's multiple streams framework (MSF) to analyse Australia's world-first decision to ban engineered stone (ES) and addresses the following questions: How did the ES silicosis crisis become a priority on the policy agenda, and how did problem framing, proposed solutions, and political factors converge to enable the ban?

The program discussed in this paper involves the regulatory intervention of banning siliceous ES, a significant occupational health policy reform aimed at preventing silicosis, an irreversible lung disease caused by silica exposure in the workplace. The ban, which took effect on 1 July 2024, is part of a broader initiative to protect workers, especially in industries involving ES processing, from the harmful effects of respirable crystalline silica.

A qualitative case study approach was used. Data sources included government reports, regulatory consultations, media coverage, advocacy materials, and expert insights from stakeholders involved in the reform process. Thematic analysis was structured around MSF's three streams: problem, policy, and politics.

The analysis reveals that the problem stream was driven by framing the rapid rise of accelerated silicosis in the ES industry as a preventable 'public health emergency' disproportionately affecting young Australian workers. The policy stream, led by Safe Work Australia (SWA), featured the evolution and introduction of policy options shaped by sustained advocacy from unions, professional bodies, and researchers. In the political stream, bipartisan support, minimal industry resistance, and low economic impact facilitated the political appetite for change. The convergence of these three streams created 'a window of opportunity' that enabled the successful policy reform.

This case highlights that policy change can occur when evidence, political conditions, and advocacy efforts align. Strategic problem framing, limited industry resistance, and political feasibility were key enablers. The study reinforces the value of Kingdon's framework for understanding how diverse efforts can converge to create a window for meaningful occupational health reform.