Page 2632 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 October 1992
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trends in Canberra. This is modelled on the Commonwealth legislation - although the benchmark for Commonwealth elections is average divisional enrolments, whereas for the ACT it is the quota. Obviously, an average is not appropriate for an electoral system where the electorates are not the same size.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I believe that the first part of the legislation establishing our electoral system provides the ACT community with a reliable, independent and public process that will result in fair electoral boundaries upon which to implement the Hare-Clark electoral system in the Territory. I present the explanatory memorandum for the Bill.
Debate (on motion by Mr Kaine) adjourned.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992
Debate resumed from 13 October 1992, on motion by Mr Berry:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MR LAMONT (4.17): It gives me great pleasure to be able to rise to address this matter this afternoon. I am, however, somewhat surprised that these most worthwhile propositions have generated the level of vitriol and debate evident from those opposite. I need to refute a number of the allegations which have been made erroneously by a number of the speakers from the other side of the house who have commented on this matter.
Let us have a look at the first simple principle. I believe that there is a common objective across this Assembly to reduce the level of accidents that occur in industry - in any industry. We all recognise that by reducing those accidents there is a direct cost benefit to the employer and a direct benefit to the community in terms of the costs associated with health infrastructure, et cetera. If we start from that premise and look at the Bill before this house, there can be no objection to the way in which the Government is proceeding. Indeed, to object to the way in which the Government is proceeding is to reject the simple premise on which this whole legislative program is based.
Let us look at what has been established in the ACT. We have established an Occupational Health and Safety Council. The model for that council arose out of the South Australian legislation, which was recognised as probably the best occupational health and safety legislation in Australia at the time. The council was supported by the employers, the Government and the trade unions. It has a range of powers. It can determine, as it has done, the training providers. It must give its approval to organisations before they can provide training in the ACT, and it has done so. It also determines the type and style of training. When the matter of reducing the designated work group size from 20 to 10 was before the OH and S Council, the representatives of the business community said absolutely nothing about changing the training requirements provided for - - -
Mrs Carnell: They just said that they did not want it. They just said that it was garbage.
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