Page 416 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 February 1993
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Clearly, this is not well thought out; it is back-of-the-envelope stuff aimed at taking a political point or two. But you are being exposed at the same time to the truth that what the Liberals are about is more dangerous workplaces. That is what the Liberals are about, because they have said that Worksafe Australia will be abolished. They have said that, and therefore with it goes that national organisation - - -
Mr De Domenico: No, we have not said that. That is just not true.
MR BERRY: It is true. Go and check your Federal policy. Worksafe Australia will be abolished, and with it goes that national organisation which is responsible for these important changes to the culture of workplace safety.
There are some other important issues I will touch on in this debate because they are relevant. Assisted by the occupational health and safety push in the ACT, since 1987-88 we have seen a fall in workers compensation rates from $4.09 to $1.98 - a more than 50 per cent reduction over the last five years. Certainly, the occupational health and safety laws of the Territory cannot take all of the credit for that; negotiation between the various parties can take some of it, but occupational health and safety laws can surely take some of the credit as well.
Mr De Domenico would turn the clock backwards. Would he like us to have insurance rates comparable to those in other States? For example, would he like to have us on $3.41, as it is in Western Australia in comparison to an overall $1.98? Mr De Domenico would have us turn the clock backwards. What is most important about developments in occupational health and safety law across Australia is that in those jurisdictions where the structure has been created for employers, unions and governments to work together to increase workplace safety it has worked. It has clearly worked in the Territory and it will continue to work. It will not work under any Liberal philosophy because they are not about participation by the various groups; they are about conflict. They have shown themselves as people who can live off conflict.
As I have said, the structure is the most important part. We have done that here in the ACT and we have been congratulated for it in the past. The structure we have created, first of all, imposes a duty of care on employers, but at the same time involves unions, employees, employers and the Government in the process of cleaning up the workplace. It is working. Why turn the clock back? You people are living in the past.
Mr De Domenico goes on to say that we should do something about changing our designated work groups. You cannot compare our legislation with what goes on in other States. For example, does he want us to have committees, as in New South Wales? Does he want us to increase our four days training to five days, like Western Australia and Tasmania? Does he want us to change the training down to nil, like some other States? Our legislation is the most advanced, and it is most advanced on that very important point of creating the right structure and involving more people in the overall culture of improving workplace safety. That is what we are about. Costs are falling and will continue to fall, and the benefits to employers will continue to flow. The Liberals hate that - a progressive policy that can proceed without conflict and produce results
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