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Is this stuff really so loved that we absolutely must have it, even if we aren't entirely sure what in it causes these effects?

Is there really absolutely no other options available? That is we will now go hungry as there is no more tables in world to prepare our food on...

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Engineered stone is cheaper than "real" stone (granite) and sturdier than other alternatives (mostly wood-based materials). But no, the world won't end because of this ban. What people are getting worked up about is that stone has been worked on for centuries, and will also keep being worked on in the future, and there are proven methods of preventing silicosis while working on it (wearing PPE, vacuuming up the dust ASAP etc.), but the Australian government chose not to do anything about the culture of ignoring the dangers and instead took the short-sighted alternative of banning just one of the many possible causes of silicosis...

Ppe is available and the dangers known and in a short time there was a huge spike in sick workers starting shortly after it’s introduction . It’s clearly more dangerous stuff to work with then other materials that were in use.

It’s not short sighted to save lives

I'm strongly in favour of banning engineered stone countertops because they are extremely tacky.

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