Page 3336 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 24 November 1992
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: I would be happy to provide that. I remind members that there has been a bit of a free flow of comments in the chamber and - - -
Mr Wood: All from one side.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, not entirely, Mr Wood. I remind members that this is a matter of public importance that Mr Berry is addressing.
MR BERRY: I repeat that I always like to see the Liberals looking glum, because I know that I am doing my job. Never make them smile.
Mr Deputy Speaker, in occupational health and safety we have achieved a lot in the ACT - more than most. Since 1988, the private sector work force has increased by 20 per cent and the number of accidents reported to insurance companies is down by 25 per cent. We have introduced injury and dangerous occurrence reporting requirements to target more effectively ACT government injury prevention policies, introduced a number of codes of practice to improve safe working practices in industry and introduced a regulation requiring training of workplace health and safety representatives to improve safety in workplaces. These are all positive achievements which have been supported by sectors of business in the ACT, and rightly so. They opposed occupational health and safety legislation at its implementation, but supported it when they saw its effect. The results have been positive. All this is important in terms of micro-economic reform. Occupational health and safety is not only a good community health issue and a social justice issue but also an issue of keeping people out of our hospitals and making sure that workplaces become more efficient.
I mention some more changes. We have had progressive change in the wider industrial relations system through initiatives such as award restructuring and union restructuring at industry and workplace level under the Federal Act, which we support. Reductions in Commonwealth funding for the Territory based on the Grants Commission have meant that we have had to restructure the ACT budget. We have had to do it in a consultative environment with the trade union movement because, without that sort of environment, it would be almost impossible to achieve. Labor has a special relationship with the trade union movement and we are able to achieve - - -
Mr Humphries: Yes, corrupt.
Mr Lamont: I take a point of order on that, Mr Deputy Speaker. I ask that that be withdrawn. In fact, I believe that - - -
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: You ask for a withdrawal?
Mr Lamont: Yes, I ask that the member withdraw that. Not only should he apologise, but the remark should be struck from the record.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am afraid I cannot rule on that, Mr Lamont; but I can ask for a withdrawal.
Mr Humphries: If members opposite feel that I have personally offended them - it certainly was not the intention - I withdraw any offence that - - -
Mrs Grassby: Yes. I am a member of a union.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .