Page 4109 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 22 October 2019

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I must say I am surprised that the Greens have already foreshadowed their lack of support for this—seeks to ensure that the relevant standing committee of the Legislative Assembly has an oversight role in the appointment of the Work Health and Safety Commissioner. The purpose of that is consistent with the appointment of many other government board positions or commissioner roles, where the relevant standing committee of the Assembly is consulted and involved in the approval of that appointment. The clause is very simple in seeking to grant that under the criteria for the appointment of the Work Health and Safety Commissioner.

The second amendment is a definition of what the relevant standing committee is for the purposes of this legislation.

It is quite galling to hear the Greens talk about the need for better scrutiny in this place from time to time but, when the opportunity comes to support it, walk away—unremarkably.

MS ORR (Yerrabi—Minister for Community Services and Facilities, Minister for Disability, Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety and Minister for Government Services and Procurement) (11.49): The government will be opposing both of these amendments. These amendments fundamentally change the role of the executive in making statutory appointments. The appointments that require the approval of the Assembly typically only appear in relation to appointments made by the Speaker of the Assembly, which this appointment is not. There is simply no basis for making the process for this appointment different from others made by the executive.

The legislation provides for an open and accountable selection process for the new Work Safety Commissioner. The Work Safety Council has the power to remove the Work Safety Commissioner in extreme cases. This legislation provides a framework for a transparent appointment. Canberra’s workers and employees can both be confident that they will be working with a commissioner whose focus is on improving safety.

Question put:

That the amendments be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Amendments negatived.

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