❓ A WA parliamentary question on occupational safety and health laws harmonisation. The Premier responds, highlighting agreement with most proposals but asserting the state's right to maintain differences, particularly regarding the mining industry and union access.
AnsweredQoN 633Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LAWS — HARMONISATION
I note that 57 people have died in WA workplaces since July 2008 and that the government’s failure to work with other states on a national program of reform for occupational health and safety laws continues to put lives at risk. (1) As the Council of Australian Governments first agreed to these reforms in July 2008, why has the government failed to introduce a bill into Parliament after three years? (2) Is it state government policy to deny Western Australians the safety protection that other Australian workers enjoy? (3) When the Premier eventually gets around to undertaking these reforms, will the model bill and regulations apply to the mining industry, as is the Department of Commerce’s intention as stated on its website? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I note that 57 people have died in WA workplaces since July 2008 and that the government’s failure to work with other states on a national program of reform for occupational health and safety laws continues to put lives at risk. (1) As the Council of Australian Governments first agreed to these reforms in July 2008, why has the government failed to introduce a bill into Parliament after three years? (2) Is it state government policy to deny Western Australians the safety protection that other Australian workers enjoy? (3) When the Premier eventually gets around to undertaking these reforms, will the model bill and regulations apply to the mining industry, as is the Department of Commerce’s intention as stated on its website? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) From my recollection, in July 2008 this government was not in power. That is the first point. That was an agreement signed by the previous government. There has been an unfortunate number—a very tragic number—of workplace deaths, including a number in the mining industry, which I am very acutely aware of, as is the Minister for Mines and Petroleum. We agree with most of the proposals in that agreement and we agree with the consistency, but we are not about to allow the direction and management of the mining industry to be outside of this state. There are unique features in the mining industry in all aspects, and particularly mine safety, which are better understood by the mining industry and the Department of Mines and Petroleum in Western Australia. We are also not going to allow increased rights of entry and the like by union officials into the medium-sized business sector in this state. There are some points on which we differ. On most of it we agree, and we will continue to discuss that with the commonwealth and the other states. But this state is perfectly entitled to maintain differences, if we so desire.
(1) As the Council of Australian Governments first agreed to these reforms in July 2008, why has the government failed to introduce a bill into Parliament after three years? (2) Is it state government policy to deny Western Australians the safety protection that other Australian workers enjoy? (3) When the Premier eventually gets around to undertaking these reforms, will the model bill and regulations apply to the mining industry, as is the Department of Commerce’s intention as stated on its website? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) From my recollection, in July 2008 this government was not in power. That is the first point. That was an agreement signed by the previous government. There has been an unfortunate number—a very tragic number—of workplace deaths, including a number in the mining industry, which I am very acutely aware of, as is the Minister for Mines and Petroleum. We agree with most of the proposals in that agreement and we agree with the consistency, but we are not about to allow the direction and management of the mining industry to be outside of this state. There are unique features in the mining industry in all aspects, and particularly mine safety, which are better understood by the mining industry and the Department of Mines and Petroleum in Western Australia. We are also not going to allow increased rights of entry and the like by union officials into the medium-sized business sector in this state. There are some points on which we differ. On most of it we agree, and we will continue to discuss that with the commonwealth and the other states. But this state is perfectly entitled to maintain differences, if we so desire.
(2) Is it state government policy to deny Western Australians the safety protection that other Australian workers enjoy? (3) When the Premier eventually gets around to undertaking these reforms, will the model bill and regulations apply to the mining industry, as is the Department of Commerce’s intention as stated on its website? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) From my recollection, in July 2008 this government was not in power. That is the first point. That was an agreement signed by the previous government. There has been an unfortunate number—a very tragic number—of workplace deaths, including a number in the mining industry, which I am very acutely aware of, as is the Minister for Mines and Petroleum. We agree with most of the proposals in that agreement and we agree with the consistency, but we are not about to allow the direction and management of the mining industry to be outside of this state. There are unique features in the mining industry in all aspects, and particularly mine safety, which are better understood by the mining industry and the Department of Mines and Petroleum in Western Australia. We are also not going to allow increased rights of entry and the like by union officials into the medium-sized business sector in this state. There are some points on which we differ. On most of it we agree, and we will continue to discuss that with the commonwealth and the other states. But this state is perfectly entitled to maintain differences, if we so desire.
(3) When the Premier eventually gets around to undertaking these reforms, will the model bill and regulations apply to the mining industry, as is the Department of Commerce’s intention as stated on its website? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) From my recollection, in July 2008 this government was not in power. That is the first point. That was an agreement signed by the previous government. There has been an unfortunate number—a very tragic number—of workplace deaths, including a number in the mining industry, which I am very acutely aware of, as is the Minister for Mines and Petroleum. We agree with most of the proposals in that agreement and we agree with the consistency, but we are not about to allow the direction and management of the mining industry to be outside of this state. There are unique features in the mining industry in all aspects, and particularly mine safety, which are better understood by the mining industry and the Department of Mines and Petroleum in Western Australia. We are also not going to allow increased rights of entry and the like by union officials into the medium-sized business sector in this state. There are some points on which we differ. On most of it we agree, and we will continue to discuss that with the commonwealth and the other states. But this state is perfectly entitled to maintain differences, if we so desire.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) From my recollection, in July 2008 this government was not in power. That is the first point. That was an agreement signed by the previous government. There has been an unfortunate number—a very tragic number—of workplace deaths, including a number in the mining industry, which I am very acutely aware of, as is the Minister for Mines and Petroleum. We agree with most of the proposals in that agreement and we agree with the consistency, but we are not about to allow the direction and management of the mining industry to be outside of this state. There are unique features in the mining industry in all aspects, and particularly mine safety, which are better understood by the mining industry and the Department of Mines and Petroleum in Western Australia. We are also not going to allow increased rights of entry and the like by union officials into the medium-sized business sector in this state. There are some points on which we differ. On most of it we agree, and we will continue to discuss that with the commonwealth and the other states. But this state is perfectly entitled to maintain differences, if we so desire.
(1)–(3) From my recollection, in July 2008 this government was not in power. That is the first point. That was an agreement signed by the previous government. There has been an unfortunate number—a very tragic number—of workplace deaths, including a number in the mining industry, which I am very acutely aware of, as is the Minister for Mines and Petroleum. We agree with most of the proposals in that agreement and we agree with the consistency, but we are not about to allow the direction and management of the mining industry to be outside of this state. There are unique features in the mining industry in all aspects, and particularly mine safety, which are better understood by the mining industry and the Department of Mines and Petroleum in Western Australia. We are also not going to allow increased rights of entry and the like by union officials into the medium-sized business sector in this state. There are some points on which we differ. On most of it we agree, and we will continue to discuss that with the commonwealth and the other states. But this state is perfectly entitled to maintain differences, if we so desire.
(1) As the Council of Australian Governments first agreed to these reforms in July 2008, why has the government failed to introduce a bill into Parliament after three years? (2) Is it state government policy to deny Western Australians the safety protection that other Australian workers enjoy? (3) When the Premier eventually gets around to undertaking these reforms, will the model bill and regulations apply to the mining industry, as is the Department of Commerce’s intention as stated on its website? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) From my recollection, in July 2008 this government was not in power. That is the first point. That was an agreement signed by the previous government. There has been an unfortunate number—a very tragic number—of workplace deaths, including a number in the mining industry, which I am very acutely aware of, as is the Minister for Mines and Petroleum. We agree with most of the proposals in that agreement and we agree with the consistency, but we are not about to allow the direction and management of the mining industry to be outside of this state. There are unique features in the mining industry in all aspects, and particularly mine safety, which are better understood by the mining industry and the Department of Mines and Petroleum in Western Australia. We are also not going to allow increased rights of entry and the like by union officials into the medium-sized business sector in this state. There are some points on which we differ. On most of it we agree, and we will continue to discuss that with the commonwealth and the other states. But this state is perfectly entitled to maintain differences, if we so desire.
(2) Is it state government policy to deny Western Australians the safety protection that other Australian workers enjoy? (3) When the Premier eventually gets around to undertaking these reforms, will the model bill and regulations apply to the mining industry, as is the Department of Commerce’s intention as stated on its website? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) From my recollection, in July 2008 this government was not in power. That is the first point. That was an agreement signed by the previous government. There has been an unfortunate number—a very tragic number—of workplace deaths, including a number in the mining industry, which I am very acutely aware of, as is the Minister for Mines and Petroleum. We agree with most of the proposals in that agreement and we agree with the consistency, but we are not about to allow the direction and management of the mining industry to be outside of this state. There are unique features in the mining industry in all aspects, and particularly mine safety, which are better understood by the mining industry and the Department of Mines and Petroleum in Western Australia. We are also not going to allow increased rights of entry and the like by union officials into the medium-sized business sector in this state. There are some points on which we differ. On most of it we agree, and we will continue to discuss that with the commonwealth and the other states. But this state is perfectly entitled to maintain differences, if we so desire.
(3) When the Premier eventually gets around to undertaking these reforms, will the model bill and regulations apply to the mining industry, as is the Department of Commerce’s intention as stated on its website? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) From my recollection, in July 2008 this government was not in power. That is the first point. That was an agreement signed by the previous government. There has been an unfortunate number—a very tragic number—of workplace deaths, including a number in the mining industry, which I am very acutely aware of, as is the Minister for Mines and Petroleum. We agree with most of the proposals in that agreement and we agree with the consistency, but we are not about to allow the direction and management of the mining industry to be outside of this state. There are unique features in the mining industry in all aspects, and particularly mine safety, which are better understood by the mining industry and the Department of Mines and Petroleum in Western Australia. We are also not going to allow increased rights of entry and the like by union officials into the medium-sized business sector in this state. There are some points on which we differ. On most of it we agree, and we will continue to discuss that with the commonwealth and the other states. But this state is perfectly entitled to maintain differences, if we so desire.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) From my recollection, in July 2008 this government was not in power. That is the first point. That was an agreement signed by the previous government. There has been an unfortunate number—a very tragic number—of workplace deaths, including a number in the mining industry, which I am very acutely aware of, as is the Minister for Mines and Petroleum. We agree with most of the proposals in that agreement and we agree with the consistency, but we are not about to allow the direction and management of the mining industry to be outside of this state. There are unique features in the mining industry in all aspects, and particularly mine safety, which are better understood by the mining industry and the Department of Mines and Petroleum in Western Australia. We are also not going to allow increased rights of entry and the like by union officials into the medium-sized business sector in this state. There are some points on which we differ. On most of it we agree, and we will continue to discuss that with the commonwealth and the other states. But this state is perfectly entitled to maintain differences, if we so desire.
(1)–(3) From my recollection, in July 2008 this government was not in power. That is the first point. That was an agreement signed by the previous government. There has been an unfortunate number—a very tragic number—of workplace deaths, including a number in the mining industry, which I am very acutely aware of, as is the Minister for Mines and Petroleum. We agree with most of the proposals in that agreement and we agree with the consistency, but we are not about to allow the direction and management of the mining industry to be outside of this state. There are unique features in the mining industry in all aspects, and particularly mine safety, which are better understood by the mining industry and the Department of Mines and Petroleum in Western Australia. We are also not going to allow increased rights of entry and the like by union officials into the medium-sized business sector in this state. There are some points on which we differ. On most of it we agree, and we will continue to discuss that with the commonwealth and the other states. But this state is perfectly entitled to maintain differences, if we so desire.
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