Page 2643 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 October 1992
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Mrs Carnell: Nor would I.
MR BERRY: That is right. There has been a certain paranoia generated about the involvement of unions, to try to distract people from the real issue. All that has to occur is that unions have to be notified. There is nothing wrong with that. Indeed, their involvement in and acceptance of this process is one of the main reasons why it has been so successful. If the parties to these sorts of arrangements do not accept them, they do not work, and that has been one of the successes of the occupational health and safety legislation. Employers know that if they work with their employees in a legislated framework, with reasonable regulations, they can reduce their costs, provide a safer workplace for their employees, and have more profitable businesses.
Mr Lamont: That would reduce their oncosts, Mr Berry?
MR BERRY: They would reduce their oncosts significantly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail Stage
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole
MS SZUTY (5.02): I move:
Page 1, clause 2, line 6, omit the clause, substitute the following clause:
Commencement
"2.(1) Sections 1, 2 and 3 commence on the day on which this Act is notified in the Gazette.
"(2) Section 4 commences on 1 July 1993.".
In putting forward this amendment, I am attempting to give small business in the ACT breathing space prior to the amending legislation coming into effect - breathing space to establish their designated work groups, elect their occupational health and safety representatives, and provide for their training and the employment of casual relief staff, if needed.
The Government may argue that this change is a minor issue. However, it can be argued otherwise, in that it affects an estimated 8,500 employees and 750 workplaces - a not insignificant number of people in our community. I have therefore proposed the amendment to give business time to come to terms with the changes to the Act. By making the implementation date the first day of the next new financial year, small business is given a chance to make necessary changes and to budget for them. It also gives the economy eight more months of what we are all hoping will be an economic recovery. The requirement for the
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