Coal miner's pneumoconiosis, also known as black lung, was under the spotlight at a parliamentary select committee inquiry into black lung, with a public departmental briefing on Friday.

Black lung, caused by long-term inhalation of coal dust, was thought to have been eradicated before cases began being diagnosed in 2015.

Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller said during the hearing that it was recommended in 1984 that miners have x-rays every five years.

"We understand that approximately 100,000 or more of these x-rays were not read by your department (Natural Resources and Mines) or your agencies," Ms Miller said.

But Mineral and Energy Resources deputy director-general Rachael Cronin said the scheme in place meant a health assessment was done for miners every five years.

"Not every worker is x-rayed every five years," she said.

"Only those workers at risk of dust exposure were x-rayed under the scheme."

Ms Cronin said there were records kept in archives that had not been entered into the electronic management system.

"We have undertaken a process to do that with some focus in the last six to 12 months since I've been in the chair and that information is being systematically entered."

In 1984 a review by Dr Mannie Rathus detected 75 confirmed or suspected cases of black lung.

The report recommended regular follow-ups with miners.

Ms Miller asked the Department of Natural Resources and Mines to provide the committee with details about every miner mentioned in the Rathus report.

"I would like a detailed report as to whether or not those miners were followed up, how they were followed up and also the outcome of that," she said.

Ms Miller said the Rathus report "recommended that there were to be chest x-rays at intervals of not less than five years" for workers.

She also questioned whether retired miners who asked for their old health records were being given clinical notes or the original x-rays.

Deputy chair Lawrence Springborg asked why 32 years ago authorities were able to conduct health studies of coal miners but now "we seem to have dropped the ball".

"We have not been competently identifying and diagnosing this for years," Mr Springborg said.

"After (1984), we have no idea of knowing how many extra cases there were."

The hearing also revealed that no coal mining companies in Queensland had been prosecuted for excess dust.

Member for Greenslopes Joe Kelly, a former nurse, said Queensland doctors were working in an environment where everyone thought the disease was eradicated.

"Someone comes in short of breath, coughing with or without mucous... difficulty walking up and down stairs," he said.

"We're not looking at black lung because we've been told it's been eradicated."

Ms Miller said she knew men who had not gone to a doctor or to get diagnosed because they were "frightened of the costs".

"It means if they are on the aged pension and they get this referral that they don't eat for that week," she said.

On Wednesday the Department of Natural Resources and Mines confirmed the diagnosis of an open cut mine worker, who joined 15 underground workers who've been told they have the condition since 2015.

Ms Miller's questioning became tense at times, telling witnesses the committee would "ask you what we like, when we like and we intend to do so", when those presenting appeared to attempt to wrest some control back or defer to a later witness.

The Labor MP broke down in sobs in parliament in August as she described the impact black lung disease had on her family.

Her plea for help secured a parliamentary committee inquiry into why the disease had re-emerged in Queensland.

After the hearing Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said he hoped the government had the drive to get to the bottom of the issue and provide coal workers and their families with much-needed answers.

"Sadly, it has become clear there has been a failure in the detection of black lung by the department, government, unions and health professionals over three decades," Mr Nicholls said.

If the parliamentary inquiry does not work, Ms Miller has pledged to move for a royal commission herself.

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