Page 3116 - Week 07 - Thursday, 1 July 2010
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But there is no question that random drug testing equally will reduce the number of people that drive under the influence of drugs, be it an illicit drug such as ecstasy, marijuana or methamphetamines, as is in the legislation now. By regulation, if Mr Corbell or the transport minister choose to push forward with other drugs, if they can provide the evidence, then I am sure we would support that. So I make that point. I think that the time for the political squabbles is over. It is time for the government now to move forward and implement this legislation.
In closing, I would like to commend the police for the work they do not just in drug driving and implementing that legislation, which is obviously to come, but of course all their endeavours, be it random breath testing, the violence in Civic, the good work that they do. I commend the Chief Police Officer, who is facing political times at the moment, and his officers for the work they do.
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (4.04): I will speak on two areas: firstly, the work safety implications of the budget on the Department of Justice and Community Safety and specifically the safety enforcement arm of the Office of Regulatory Services. Workplace inspectors play a crucial role in ensuring workplace safety by ensuring safety standards are maintained in businesses and on work sites.
I have expressed concern during the estimates process and also during previous questions in the Assembly about the apparent low frequency of safety inspections conducted by ORS. The Attorney-General has moved to increase the number of inspectors as part of a reorganisation of ORS and WorkSafe. There is funding in the budget to increase the number of inspectors and, as noted in the estimates hearing, we would expect to see an increase in the number of inspections performed and a commensurate increase in compliance.
If this eventuates, the ACT Greens welcome this move. I would urge the minister to set appropriate targets for the number of workplaces and sites inspected as an output measure. From the estimates hearings it was noted by department representatives that each inspector has a set target; so we can expect to see appropriate targets and an increase in inspections, which is a positive move.
Additionally, given that the overwhelming majority of inspections, according to the report into the operation of the Work Safety Act, occur in the building industry, we would suggest that the government consider making one or more inspector positions dedicated to the building industry. This would allow the government to hire individuals with specific knowledge and onsite experience.
I would also raise as a concern the relatively pessimistic target for compliance with occupational health and safety standards. A target of 80 per cent of workplaces compliant with OH&S legislation does seem to accept that one in five businesses may fail to meet OH&S requirements. Is this a reasonable thing to expect? Particularly in an environment where the government will be engaging additional workplace inspectors, it is disappointing that the government may have not chosen to pursue a more optimistic target. But I do imagine that with the increase in inspectors and also the changes which have been made we may see a change in these targets. This was actually reflected in the estimates hearings, which again is a positive move.
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