Page 3780 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 24 September 2019
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MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Ms Lawder for the supplementary question. We have been working with Arthritis ACT, which has done some of the work to identify those pools. There is a pool just down the road, probably less than a kilometre from Canberra Hospital, at Stellar, the new Southern Cross facility.
Mr Wall: It is not warm enough.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: That is an appropriate pool. It is currently at 34 degrees. The temperature does get turned down in summer in response to feedback from consumers at that pool who like it to be warmer in winter and cooler in summer. There is also another pool further south that we are looking at, as well, as an alternative option. There is a range of hydrotherapy pools in the south and it is a question of identifying which ones are going to be available and most appropriate for different types of classes and groups. But that is the work that we are currently doing with Arthritis ACT.
I particularly thank Arthritis ACT for the close way that they have engaged in this work and the CEO of Arthritis ACT for her public acknowledgement that the Canberra Hospital pool does have to close and her very dedicated work in trying to work through an alternative solution until we have conducted the market sounding that we have committed to in relation to a new public community-based hydrotherapy pool in Canberra’s south.
Work safety—National Safe Work Month
MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety. Minister, how will the ACT government be supporting working Canberrans during National Safe Work Month?
MS ORR: I thank the member for his interest in workplace safety and for asking about National Safe Work Month, which begins next Tuesday. This government is committed to promoting and maintaining safe workplaces for all Canberrans all of the time. National Safe Work Month in October is a time for public events and public discussion about our responsibility, and our commitment to safety.
Attention to safety is critically important to our workers personally and to our economy. On top of the human cost of injuries in the workplace, nationally, work-related injury and disease cost the Australian community $61.8 billion a year. Poor work health and safety costs $5,000 per worker each year and equates to 4.1 per cent of Australia’s gross domestic product.
During work safety month I will be reaching out across Canberra’s diverse workplaces. The construction industry, the public service and airport workers are just some of the groups I will be joining during safe work month. I will be joining WorkSafe ACT and our Work Safety Commissioner at these events to put a spotlight on safety. Training seminars, panel discussions and expos have been set up to help people in these workplaces to learn more about safety and to encourage more participation.
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