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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 13 Hansard (27 November) . . Page.. 4881 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

The stingy, mean and narrow-minded Labor government would not accept a gift. An interesting thing about the pin is that it was a gift from the CFMEU-the union-and from business. I say to the union and to Andrew Robb and Associates and the Kingston Hotel, "Well done!"

Ms Gallagher: Gary Robb.

MR SMYTH: The minister is right; it is Gary Robb and Associates. I thank her for pointing that out to me. I also say, "Well done"to those members of the Liberal Party who stood up to a government that would not accept a free utility to help bush firefighters. When we work together we can actually achieve something.

This adversarial system will implement special industrial manslaughter provisions that will result in the imposition on employers of heavier penalties than those that would be imposed on a criminal who was caught in the act of committing manslaughter. This government is not fair dinkum.

Another unique thing happened in March 2001 when Mr Berry introduced his legislation for on-the-spot fines in the occupational health and safety area. The then minister responsible for industrial relations matters released a discussion paper about upgrading the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1951. I was that minister. Almost three years later that paper has not come back to this Assembly. The work of the committee that was established at that time has not progressed because two negligent Labor ministers have avoided their responsibilities. Things do not progress if decisions are not made.

What we have is government through inactivity. This government has had two years within which to work with unions and employers. The Stanhope Labor government has had plenty of opportunity to honour its commitment to workers and to do something to prevent these workplace deaths. It has done nothing to stop those deaths. Under the new act we will have an inadequate number of inspectors to implement on-the-spot fines. Training programs are non-existent. We should ensure that those inspectors are competent and that they have been trained to implement these provisions. They must also be helpful rather than a hindrance.

Mr Hargreaves: Go on, criticise them now.

MR SMYTH: No, I am not criticising inspectors. That is Mr Hargreaves' standard defence when he gets titchy. Mr Titchy will never sit on the front bench.

MR SPEAKER: Order! I remind members that interjections are disorderly.

MR SMYTH: I agree with Mr Speaker. Mr Hargreaves is disorderly.

MR SPEAKER: If members respond to interjections that is also disorderly.

MR SMYTH: This supposed commitment of the Labor Party has been shown up for what it is-a sham. We as a community can achieve a great deal when we work together to make things better. Putting in place legislation that many groups have said will lead to alienation, resentment or fear is not working together. When I was the responsible minister I was proud to be able to stand with CFMEU representatives at a building site in

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