Page 415 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 February 1993
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Question put:
That the motion (Mr Berry's) be agreed to.
The Assembly voted -
AYES, 10 NOES 7
Mr Berry Mrs Carnell
Mr Connolly Mr Cornwell
Ms Ellis Mr De Domenico
Ms Follett Mr Humphries
Mrs Grassby Mr Kaine
Mr Lamont Mr Stevenson
Ms McRae Mr Westende
Mr Moore
Ms Szuty
Mr Wood
Question so resolved in the affirmative.
Agreement-in-Principle Stage
MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (11.30): Madam Speaker, Mr De Domenico has pulled this stunt, along with his Liberal colleagues, at a time when the stunt would have more relevance to a Federal election than to what is going on in the ACT. He says that it is because there is talk about national uniformity. Mr De Domenico either is in blissful ignorance of what is being achieved in workplace safety across this country or is deliberately ignoring the facts in the interests of his stunt. Had he taken the time to do some research in relation to recent events in the ACT and in particular in relation to the media invitation to which he referred, he would have known of another media release which talked about national uniformity in occupational health and safety standards, and Worksafe Australia is a key to that national uniformity. It carries out research, provides employers and workers with various OH and S products and kits, updates chemical assessments, awards grants for training and research, and carries out education and training programs in OH and S. It is most important that that process continue.
On the day to which Mr De Domenico referred there was a seminar in the ACT organised by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission on the draft national health and safety standard for plant, which is one of the important standards that are being developed by the commission. That process is a continuing one, and the key to that process being successful is to have the proper structures in place in the various Territories and States to ensure that there is a consultative network, and a cooperative one, which implements those standards as they are being announced. I said earlier this morning that already my office has reached agreement with employer groups in the ACT to advertise in employer magazines and newspapers to assist in the implementation of the new legislation, which is to have effect on 1 July. That process is going smoothly and it ought not to be interrupted by these sorts of stunts.
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