Page 2019 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 15 May 2013
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These new qualifications were developed in conjunction with industry stakeholders, including unions and employers, to raise the level of occupational health and safety in these high-risk areas. Indeed, it is a great example of working with industry peak bodies and unions to ensure positive and inclusive safety cultures in all workplaces across the territory.
CIT at Bruce should be congratulated—congratulated for taking the lead in looking at the new industry requirements and working with local stakeholders; congratulated for designing the new facility and furnishing it with the latest high-tech equipment, including the mobile slewing crane, providing a range of training environments in scaffolding, rigging and crane operations. I am very proud that CIT Bruce has taken this forward step to protect workers in the most high-risk jobs in, unfortunately, our most dangerous industry, construction.
Amendments agreed to.
MS PORTER (Ginninderra) (12.27): I am pleased to support this important motion that is before the Assembly today, and I thank my colleague Mick Gentleman for giving it the attention it deserves. When speaking on this motion, it is important that we all remember the reasons that make it significant. We all know too well safety at work can mean, and does mean, different things to different people. Sometimes it is the difference between having a parent, husband, wife or brother or sister coming home safely from work or not. Unfortunately, as we know, there have been too many occasions when this has not happened. Other members have mentioned these tragic circumstances before me.
To others, it is the ability to continue working and providing for their families in a safe and healthy environment. To the government, work safety means the continual improvements to the health, safety and wellbeing of all people in their workplace, wherever that may be, and ensuring that that is backed up by legislation. It also means a joint effort by all parties to ensure that workplaces are safe and that people are protected. As we all know, failure to address these elements could have, and indeed has had, a negative effect on the whole community and a devastating effect on individual families. I am encouraged by the steps that this Labor government has taken over the years. It has been this government which has addressed occupational health and safety in the workplace.
In the Seventh Assembly, when speaking to the Work Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2009, which built on what had previously been done in this area, I said that the legislation and the amendments were aimed at securing the safety of people at work, the management of risk and the provision of an environment for workers that is safe and healthy, that protects them from injury and illness and that provides for their physical and psychological needs and wellbeing. I also talked about how the legislation sought to encourage cooperation and consultation between employers and workers and the organisations representing them, as well as providing an environment for ongoing improvement and progressively higher standards for work safety, taking into account changes in the workplace and technology and practices. Other speakers before me this morning have outlined the various amendments and legislation that the government has put before this place over time to achieve that.
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