Page 419 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 7 March 2006

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now partially deaf. His family are saving up for an eye operation to repair the damage to his second eye.

It is shameful that this happened to a young worker with his life ahead of him. But there is hope for Samuel and it comes in the form of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union. The CFMEU have established a fund to assist Samuel and his family with the ongoing medical costs associated with his injuries. When addressing a rally last Friday, Samuel’s mother Atirua Kautai thanked the CFMEU for their support during this very trying period.

The CFMEU is a proactive union. Whilst they are always prepared to assist those workers who have had to pick up the pieces as a result of their dealings with their employees, CFMEU members want to prevent such events from ever occurring. They want to be involved in workplace safety matters because they know it will save lives and prevent accidents.

Unlike Mr Mulcahy, they see their involvement not as intrusive, but as essential to workplace OH&S matters. Samuel’s workplace was not a union site. Unfortunately, his contact with the CFMEU came after this shocking treatment by his employer. But, unlike the federal government and the Building Industry Taskforce, the CFMEU will be there, now and in the future, to assist Samuel and his family.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

The Assembly adjourned at 6.21 pm.

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