Page 247 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 February 1990
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this is a very important point, I think - future reductions in compensation payments and premiums for employers. Again the importance of that is most significant because there will be lower costs flowing on to the community.
This Assembly is obliged to consider all of those aspects of the issue of a reduced size of designated work groups. I think any rational assessment of the issue as it has been put in the motion that I have moved will lead to overwhelming support for the proposed changes to the legislation.
MR DUBY (Minister for Finance and Urban Services) (4.54): Mr Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to speak to this motion today. I think it needs to be said right from the outset of this debate that the Alliance Government is firmly and completely committed to proper occupational health and safety legislation for the ACT. There is no tension with any of the Alliance partners in Government. We have had close consultation with the union movement, including the BWIU on this matter, and the BWIU is fully satisfied with the intentions and the attitudes of the Alliance Government in relation to occupational health and safety.
Occupational health and safety is a high priority for me in my capacity as Minister for industrial relations. I note that the Bill that introduced occupational health and safety under the former Follett Government was passed, I believe, on 31 October 1989, and that Bill has to be fully operational by 14 May 1990. I have already instructed my department to proceed to implement the Act and that involves a number of operations, including filling the important position of registrar, and canvassing nominations for the Occupational Health and Safety Council.
To advise the Government on its overall health and safety strategy, including the effectiveness of the legislation, it is the Alliance Government's view that the appropriate mechanism will be the industrial relations advisory council, once it is established. IRAC, as it is known, will have representation from employer and employee groups and will also be the source of advice on the coordination of the preventive strategy with the compensation and rehabilitation strategies we also need to pursue. It will be chaired by myself, as Minister for Industrial Relations, and I think that gives an indication of the importance we place upon the advice to be given by that committee.
The Alliance Government is proceeding with a major review of workers compensation and rehabilitation in the ACT private sector. The review will, among other things, examine the value of exploiting the nexus between occupational health and safety, rehabilitation and workers compensation. The review will look at the range of benefits necessary in a scheme, how to provide these at a minimum cost and the best means of delivery of those
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