Page 253 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 February 1990
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Mr Moore: I rise on a point of order, Mr Speaker. Standing order 62 provides that a member may be directed to cease speaking after repetition. What we have heard from Mr Stefaniak is repetition of his own arguments on three previous occasions in the Assembly, and now repetition of the speech of Mr Duby.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, I think repetition has applied to all speakers, thank you, Mr Moore. Please proceed, Mr Stefaniak.
MR STEFANIAK: Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will assure Mr Moore I will not be all that much longer repetitious or not, and I think we will all be repetitious here because we did have lengthy debate. Where was I? I was dealing with appointment of a registrar, an ASO 8, a pivotal position in the Act. The position has already been advertised and the selection process has commenced. As for appointment of the tripartite Occupational Health and Safety Council, as the Minister has said, nominations have been called from industry, the trade union movement, to enable the council to be formed as soon as possible. The role of the council under the Act is to advise the Minister on matters related to occupational health and safety, including the operation of the Act and associated matters. I shall not repeat the date when the Act will be operative; the Minister has done that.
MR WOOD (5.13): Mr Duby said that the Act was being implemented. He made those comments in a speech which, in terms of the definition I gave earlier today, one would term as allegorical. I am pleased to be on my feet and supporting Mr Moore, because on this matter we did not always have the same view. I certainly welcome his conversion, and indeed the conversion of any members on that side of the House who seem rather more enthusiastic about this proposal, this Act as it is now, than they were formerly.
Let me tell you how I know it has been implemented. I have been quite surprised to hear a number of people - being as accurate as I can, I suppose, about five, which is not a great number but it is indicative - in general conversation in the last month say, "Oh, we're having to form a work-based committee", or some similar terminology that they may use. So the Act is being implemented and people out there are quite interested in it. In fact, I think the opinions I have had have ranged from interest to ready acceptance, and in two of those cases to real enthusiasm, recognising the great need for the Act. I have had no negative comment from anybody saying, "What the heck have we got to do this for?". I think it indicates to the present Government that this is a good idea. I know that there is enthusiasm out there to reduce that restrictive number from 20 down further.
Mr Stefaniak: Twenty is a good number though.
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