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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 10 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3780 ..

(8) As at 30 June 2003, how many legal cases did WorkCover have in train during

2002 03?

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1989 three briefs of evidence were prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions consideration. Summonses have been issued in relation to all three cases. All of theses cases are related to safety on construction sites.

Under the Workers Compensation Act 1951 two briefs of evidence were prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions consideration.

Under the Dangerous Goods Act 1975 there were seven Magistrates Court matters, held over from the previous two years, pending appeals in related Supreme Court and ACT Appeals Court cases.

(9) What proportion of these cases do you anticipate will be finalised during

2003-04?

The timing of the legal or court processes referred to in Question 8 cannot be predicted. As cases are finalised they are reported in ACT WorkCover's Annual Report.

(10) How many legal cases will ACT WorkCover undertake as a result of the recent ACT fireworks season.

There are currently seventeen incidents under active investigation.

It is too early to predict how many of the current investigations will be developed into briefs of evidence for the consideration of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

(11) How much did ACT WorkCover spend on prosecuting fireworks related cases during 2002-03 and how does this figure compare to (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2000-01

Information available from WorkCover shows the following direct costs:

Type of Costs

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

Supplies and Services Costs

$223,000

$618,000

$1,077,000*

Estimated Staff Costs

$200,000

$200,000

$200,000**

Total Costs

$423,000

$818,000

$1,277,000

* Includes costs associated with disposal of 41 tonnes of fireworks forfeited to the Territory in legal cases. This quantity had been previously reported as an estimated 37 tonnes, formal weighing processes have determined the final weight as 41 tonnes.

**Whilst the salary costs increased across the financial years the proportional administrative costs per staff member reduced meaning that the estimates staff costs remained similar.

(12) How much did ACT WorkCover spend on compliance issues related to the ACT fireworks industry during 2002-03 and how does this figure compare to (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2000-01.

Compliance includes education, advice and information as well as other enforcement action such as written directions and record audits.

Compliance issues related to the fireworks industry required the following expenditure (including the costs outlined in (11) above):

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