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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (2 September) . . Page.. 2731 ..

MS HORODNY (continuing):

The Planning and Environment Committee is still looking into the John Dedman Parkway issue. I hope that we will be able to look broadly at all the impacts of that on North Canberra and, hopefully, come up with an integrated approach to addressing increased traffic flows in North Canberra.

Debate (on motion by Mr Humphries) adjourned.

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

MR BERRY: My question is directed to the Chief Minister. On 21 November Diskdeed Printing Technologies Pty Ltd was convicted in the ACT Magistrates Court of a breach of section 27 of the ACT Occupational Health and Safety Act and fined $1,000. The conviction related to an employee trapped in an unguarded printing press. In July 1996 the Government granted Diskdeed $60,000 under the business incentive scheme as part of a package to train apprentices. In August 1997 the same company was convicted of another breach of section 27 of the ACT Occupational Health and Safety Act and fined $1,200 - $1,000 for the breach and $200 for failing to report the accident. The conviction once again related to an employee trapped in an unguarded printing press. Does the Chief Minister consider that it is appropriate to hand over government money to employers who do not comply with the Territory's occupational health and safety laws, particularly employers who habitually breach the Act? Will the Chief Minister guarantee that any funds that can be withdrawn from this employer will be withdrawn, and will she give an unequivocal commitment to this Assembly that they will receive no further government funding?

MRS CARNELL: What we will continue to do is have a business incentive scheme that actually supports companies that employ extra people in the ACT. Equally, we do not support companies that do not comply with relevant legislation. If companies do not do that, obviously they need to take the full brunt of the law. Companies are required to comply with various pieces of legislation in the ACT. Occupational health and safety legislation is one of those. I am confident that a company that is found guilty under occupational health and safety laws will be required to comply with that piece of legislation.

I will certainly have a look at this particular situation, but the bottom line is that we will stand by our business incentive scheme. It has produced some $50m worth of new investment over the next three years. It is part of the reason we have had an extra 7,000 jobs in the ACT since November and an increase in employment every month for the last nine months. We have signed some 26 agreements with companies under the business incentive scheme. The vast percentage of those are local companies. With regard to this particular one, I am happy to find out further information.

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