Page 2006 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 24 October 1989
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In relation to the various matters and concerns that have been expressed, we will find out tomorrow the amendments that have been provided by the Government and the large number of amendments that I know are being proposed by the committee. I hope that these will be considered effectively and actively by the members of this chamber on Thursday to ensure that finally the workers of the ACT will receive the benefits of occupational health and safety. I understand that they will be the last workers in Australia to do so.
Ms Follett: That is right. Shame!
MR JENSEN: Let us think about that. A Federal Labor government was in charge of those matters in the ACT; it had that responsibility. Now, let us not sheet all the blame upon this Assembly. A Federal Labor government had that responsibility. Why did it not do anything? That is the question. I would suggest that it is wrong to blame this Assembly.
This is a very important piece of legislation, yet because the Government - the minority Labor Government on the other side of the house - decided that it was not happy with all the recommendations of the committee, it sought to have this matter delayed. I seem to recall, Mr Speaker, that at one stage Mr Whalan almost pleaded with the members of the Rally to make sure - - -
Mr Duby: Begged.
MR JENSEN: Yes, I think "begged" is appropriate, Mr Duby. He begged members of the Rally to listen, once again, to the concerns of the trade union movement. Mr Speaker, members of the Rally, being a very reasonable group of people in this Assembly, were quite happy to listen to what Mr McDonald had to say about this issue. Initially, I must confess, in relation to this matter about involved unions, I had some concerns - along the same lines as those of my colleague Mr Moore - about the effect that this particular matter may have on various employers, particularly small employers, in relation to a possible enforcing of union control over their businesses.
At the time, that caused me a little bit of concern, but it seems to me that we should read that legislation carefully. Clause 37(7) says:
An employer shall not establish or vary a designated work group without consulting -
(a) each involved union in relation to the employees; and
(b) if there is no such involved union - such of the employees as the employer considers appropriate;
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