Qld MP steps up call for black lung probe

Government MP Jo-Ann Miller is refusing to drop her calls for a royal commission into black lung disease in Queensland.

The Labor MP is becoming increasingly hostile towards her own colleagues during Queensland budget estimates with calls for more action on the re-emergence of black lung disease.

Questioning the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Dr Anthony Lynham, late on Wednesday, Ms Miller - whose grandfather had the disease - criticised the government for resisting her calls for a royal commission.

Dr Lynham had referred to their cost in explaining the government's alternative course of action.

"Minister, I do know that, being a medical practitioner, you are very compassionate in relation to anyone who has illnesses like black lung, but what I want to know is: why can't coalminers have an inquiry when there was an inquiry into Bundaberg Hospital and there was an inquiry into the Barrett centre?" she said.

"Minister, were those royal commissions also a waste of money?"