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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 12 Hansard (6 December) . . Page.. 3796 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

themselves amongst the worst offenders in our community. That is why these penalties have to be introduced, I regret.

There is a particularly severe penalty which prohibits employers from employing. The government expressed the view that this might impact on the employees. I do not think that there would be too many people who would want to work for an employer who repeatedly misinformed the authorities in relation to his workers compensation insurance. I do not think that there would be too many people out there who would like to work for an employer who is prepared to take these sorts of risks in relation to workers compensation insurance.

My view is that if they are prepared to take these sorts of risks with workers compensation insurance, they would be prepared to take risks with workers' lives in the pursuit of profit. There is nothing wrong with making a profit; that is fine. Of concern to me is the abuse of workers and the abuse of the system, making it more difficult for fair dinkum employers out there that do the right thing for their workers.

Overwhelmingly, the evidence that came before this committee demonstrated that employers do the right thing. There are problems with the system and we need to make sure that the money presently escaping the pool is included in the pool. Labor intends to continue with its efforts to bolster the provisions which serve injured workers wherever it can. This is one area where we can assist by voting for this legislation. I welcome the introduction of the legislation by Mr Osborne and I wish for it a speedy passage.

MS TUCKER (5.49): I am always interested in what Mr Berry has to say on these sorts of issues because he does have long experience in and a genuine commitment to occupational health and safety. In listening to him then, I was once again impressed by his level of understanding and the logic of his argument. Clearly, employers are concerned about the premiums for workers compensation insurance and so on. Obviously, the best way to address that concern is through reducing workplace incidents and accidents. I know that the figures are absolutely horrendous in this country.

We are still seeing so many workplace incidents and serious injury resulting. Clearly, we are not very good at it as a country. This is an attempt, through legislation in the ACT, to give the whole issue greater status in terms of the responsibility of employers. It is a fundamental responsibility of employers to ensure that they take all measures possible to make sure that anyone working for them is properly looked after in any circumstance, so the Greens are happy to be supporting this bill.

MR OSBORNE (5.50), in reply: I thank members for their support for this bill. It is about a very important issue. I would especially like to thank Mr Berry and his staff for their assistance on these issues. As Ms Tucker said, Mr Berry does have enormous experience on this issue. I have heard lots of things said about Mr Berry in my time in here and I have even said such things myself, but I do not think that anyone would doubt that, of all the members of this Assembly, Mr Berry's stance on behalf of workers is second to none. I am pleased to have been able to work with him on this issue.

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