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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 13 Hansard (26 November) . . Page.. 4646 ..

MR SPEAKER: That is a fair point. Mr Pratt has the floor, members. Direct your comments through the chair, Mr Pratt, and you might avoid some provocation.

MR PRATT: Of course, Mr Speaker. I am used to outflanking attacks, Mr Speaker. It worries me little.

Mr Speaker, it seems that the unions may have more powers than ACT WorkCover if what we are seeing in the first flush of policy announcement turns out to be true. I do trust the government's policy in its right of entry will not marginalise ACT WorkCover in its inspections program. The ACT WorkCover inspections program is the most proactive program that we have. It tends to be much more of an educational as well as a compliance checking activity, and this is the approach that we should be taking to enhance workplace safety for the sake of our workers and our employers.

Mr Speaker, ACT WorkCover also holds an annual award ceremony that acknowledges Canberra employers and employees for their leadership in the area of OH&S. I was fortunate enough to attend, along with Mrs Burke and Ms MacDonald, this year's lunchtime award ceremony, Mr Speaker, and found myself-

Ms Gallagher: And me.

MR PRATT: I think the minister was there too.

Ms Gallagher: Thank you. I was giving out the awards.

MR PRATT: Sorry, Minister, I was not being churlish; I was trying to remember that wonderful lunchtime session. The minister definitely was there, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I found myself proud to live in a city where so many people held OH&S in such high regard. Part of ACT WorkCover's annual plan is to reach as many Canberra workplaces as possible with information to educate and build awareness on OH&S issues, and that was abundantly clear that day, Mr Speaker, during that lunchtime award ceremony. Obviously, Mr Speaker, this has been successful in the past, if the awards were any indication of workplaces being aware of OH&S issues-and they certainly were.

Therefore, I would like to congratulate ACT WorkCover and its new commissioner, Mr Erich Jannsen.

MS DUNDAS (11.25): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank Ms MacDonald for highlighting the importance of everyone in the community continually striving for better workplace health and safety by bringing this motion on today. Since occupational health and safety laws were introduced, the rate of workplace death and serious workplace injuries has dramatically declined. Public occupational health and safety authorities, along with workplace OH&S officers and committees, have been an important part of the regulatory framework that has led to the reduction in workplace injuries and illnesses.

The inspection and education work done by ACT WorkCover has certainly prevented many workplace injuries. This is why I was so concerned when a substantial proportion

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