Page 255 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 February 1990
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Mr Kaine: Besides which, the Liberal members are further to the left than any of the other in this Government.
MR BERRY: That does not surprise me. So the position is that the tories opposite will ensure that there will be a delay in the provision of proper workplace safety.
Mr Whalan: Here comes the only true tory.
MR SPEAKER: Order. Mr Whalan, was that a salutatory direction to myself, to the Chair?
Mr Whalan: I was just waving to the Chief Minister.
MR SPEAKER: I would ask you to look to standing orders when moving into the chamber.
Mr Kaine: I acknowledge the salutation, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Please proceed, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: The issue which will concern the trade union movement and workers in this Territory is the fact that this is going to be delayed. The Government has deliberately set out to delay the issue and pass it on to the industrial relations advisory council. Of course, that just spells another delay and further release from the obligation by employers to provide proper protection for workers. The proposed amendment is merely just hollow words which will mean nothing to workers in the Territory. I am sure that the trade unions that represent those workers will make the position clear to the Government when they see this abomination that is being proposed by Mr Duby, the new industrial relations Minister. He can rest assured that I will pass it on to them, by the way. He need not bother wasting a second postage stamp; I will certainly be bringing it to their attention. I am sure they will join the further struggle to ensure that they are better protected in the future. Again I go back to Mr Duby's words on 31 October last:
... 95 per cent of employers within the ACT do not fall within that category. Having moved the size of DWGs to 20, what on earth is the point of having occupational health and safety legislation at all?
What a statement!
It simply means that the larger companies are the only ones that will have to take up the provisions of this Act.
He said in that speech:
My party was originally prepared to accept the amendment of the legislation to make a designated work group comprise 11 rather than 10.
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