❓ Opposition questions the Premier's delay in implementing model work health and safety regulations on asbestos, citing community safety concerns and WA's high rate of asbestos-related diseases. The Premier admits a lack of specific knowledge but affirms the government's commitment to occupational health and safety, highlighting disagreements with the Commonwealth on application, particularly in mining.
AnsweredQoN 664Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ASBESTOS — MODEL WORK safety and HEALTH REGULATIONS
I note that the Premier’s government is putting the health of workers at risk, and also the health of members of the public generally, by failing to implement the model work health and safety regulations on asbestos. (1) Why does the Premier continue to ignore community safety, given that these new laws will require that only licensed asbestos assessors can certify whether or not high-risk asbestos removal work has been done safely and that air and work areas are free of asbestos fibres? (2) With our state having one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the country, why will the Premier not reconsider his position on delaying these laws? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I note that the Premier’s government is putting the health of workers at risk, and also the health of members of the public generally, by failing to implement the model work health and safety regulations on asbestos. (1) Why does the Premier continue to ignore community safety, given that these new laws will require that only licensed asbestos assessors can certify whether or not high-risk asbestos removal work has been done safely and that air and work areas are free of asbestos fibres? (2) With our state having one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the country, why will the Premier not reconsider his position on delaying these laws? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I will openly admit that I am not aware of the detail of that. Mr P.C. Tinley : That’s unusual. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee! Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government places a very high degree of importance on occupational health and safety. However, we have some differences with the commonwealth government on how that law will apply, particularly in the mining industry. Asbestos has been proven to be an extraordinarily dangerous material, and difficult in the sense that asbestosis often develops, as members know, 20 or 30 years later. I do not have the detail of those particular laws or how inspectors work and the licensing. So if the Leader of the Opposition is serious about wanting an answer, he should put the question on notice or ask the responsible minister.
(1) Why does the Premier continue to ignore community safety, given that these new laws will require that only licensed asbestos assessors can certify whether or not high-risk asbestos removal work has been done safely and that air and work areas are free of asbestos fibres? (2) With our state having one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the country, why will the Premier not reconsider his position on delaying these laws? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I will openly admit that I am not aware of the detail of that. Mr P.C. Tinley : That’s unusual. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee! Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government places a very high degree of importance on occupational health and safety. However, we have some differences with the commonwealth government on how that law will apply, particularly in the mining industry. Asbestos has been proven to be an extraordinarily dangerous material, and difficult in the sense that asbestosis often develops, as members know, 20 or 30 years later. I do not have the detail of those particular laws or how inspectors work and the licensing. So if the Leader of the Opposition is serious about wanting an answer, he should put the question on notice or ask the responsible minister.
(2) With our state having one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the country, why will the Premier not reconsider his position on delaying these laws? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I will openly admit that I am not aware of the detail of that. Mr P.C. Tinley : That’s unusual. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee! Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government places a very high degree of importance on occupational health and safety. However, we have some differences with the commonwealth government on how that law will apply, particularly in the mining industry. Asbestos has been proven to be an extraordinarily dangerous material, and difficult in the sense that asbestosis often develops, as members know, 20 or 30 years later. I do not have the detail of those particular laws or how inspectors work and the licensing. So if the Leader of the Opposition is serious about wanting an answer, he should put the question on notice or ask the responsible minister.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I will openly admit that I am not aware of the detail of that. Mr P.C. Tinley : That’s unusual. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee! Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government places a very high degree of importance on occupational health and safety. However, we have some differences with the commonwealth government on how that law will apply, particularly in the mining industry. Asbestos has been proven to be an extraordinarily dangerous material, and difficult in the sense that asbestosis often develops, as members know, 20 or 30 years later. I do not have the detail of those particular laws or how inspectors work and the licensing. So if the Leader of the Opposition is serious about wanting an answer, he should put the question on notice or ask the responsible minister.
(1)–(2) I will openly admit that I am not aware of the detail of that. Mr P.C. Tinley : That’s unusual. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee! Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government places a very high degree of importance on occupational health and safety. However, we have some differences with the commonwealth government on how that law will apply, particularly in the mining industry. Asbestos has been proven to be an extraordinarily dangerous material, and difficult in the sense that asbestosis often develops, as members know, 20 or 30 years later. I do not have the detail of those particular laws or how inspectors work and the licensing. So if the Leader of the Opposition is serious about wanting an answer, he should put the question on notice or ask the responsible minister.
Mr P.C. Tinley : That’s unusual. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee! Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government places a very high degree of importance on occupational health and safety. However, we have some differences with the commonwealth government on how that law will apply, particularly in the mining industry. Asbestos has been proven to be an extraordinarily dangerous material, and difficult in the sense that asbestosis often develops, as members know, 20 or 30 years later. I do not have the detail of those particular laws or how inspectors work and the licensing. So if the Leader of the Opposition is serious about wanting an answer, he should put the question on notice or ask the responsible minister.
The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee! Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government places a very high degree of importance on occupational health and safety. However, we have some differences with the commonwealth government on how that law will apply, particularly in the mining industry. Asbestos has been proven to be an extraordinarily dangerous material, and difficult in the sense that asbestosis often develops, as members know, 20 or 30 years later. I do not have the detail of those particular laws or how inspectors work and the licensing. So if the Leader of the Opposition is serious about wanting an answer, he should put the question on notice or ask the responsible minister.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government places a very high degree of importance on occupational health and safety. However, we have some differences with the commonwealth government on how that law will apply, particularly in the mining industry. Asbestos has been proven to be an extraordinarily dangerous material, and difficult in the sense that asbestosis often develops, as members know, 20 or 30 years later. I do not have the detail of those particular laws or how inspectors work and the licensing. So if the Leader of the Opposition is serious about wanting an answer, he should put the question on notice or ask the responsible minister.
(1) Why does the Premier continue to ignore community safety, given that these new laws will require that only licensed asbestos assessors can certify whether or not high-risk asbestos removal work has been done safely and that air and work areas are free of asbestos fibres? (2) With our state having one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the country, why will the Premier not reconsider his position on delaying these laws? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I will openly admit that I am not aware of the detail of that. Mr P.C. Tinley : That’s unusual. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee! Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government places a very high degree of importance on occupational health and safety. However, we have some differences with the commonwealth government on how that law will apply, particularly in the mining industry. Asbestos has been proven to be an extraordinarily dangerous material, and difficult in the sense that asbestosis often develops, as members know, 20 or 30 years later. I do not have the detail of those particular laws or how inspectors work and the licensing. So if the Leader of the Opposition is serious about wanting an answer, he should put the question on notice or ask the responsible minister.
(2) With our state having one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the country, why will the Premier not reconsider his position on delaying these laws? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I will openly admit that I am not aware of the detail of that. Mr P.C. Tinley : That’s unusual. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee! Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government places a very high degree of importance on occupational health and safety. However, we have some differences with the commonwealth government on how that law will apply, particularly in the mining industry. Asbestos has been proven to be an extraordinarily dangerous material, and difficult in the sense that asbestosis often develops, as members know, 20 or 30 years later. I do not have the detail of those particular laws or how inspectors work and the licensing. So if the Leader of the Opposition is serious about wanting an answer, he should put the question on notice or ask the responsible minister.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I will openly admit that I am not aware of the detail of that. Mr P.C. Tinley : That’s unusual. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee! Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government places a very high degree of importance on occupational health and safety. However, we have some differences with the commonwealth government on how that law will apply, particularly in the mining industry. Asbestos has been proven to be an extraordinarily dangerous material, and difficult in the sense that asbestosis often develops, as members know, 20 or 30 years later. I do not have the detail of those particular laws or how inspectors work and the licensing. So if the Leader of the Opposition is serious about wanting an answer, he should put the question on notice or ask the responsible minister.
(1)–(2) I will openly admit that I am not aware of the detail of that. Mr P.C. Tinley : That’s unusual. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee! Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government places a very high degree of importance on occupational health and safety. However, we have some differences with the commonwealth government on how that law will apply, particularly in the mining industry. Asbestos has been proven to be an extraordinarily dangerous material, and difficult in the sense that asbestosis often develops, as members know, 20 or 30 years later. I do not have the detail of those particular laws or how inspectors work and the licensing. So if the Leader of the Opposition is serious about wanting an answer, he should put the question on notice or ask the responsible minister.
Mr P.C. Tinley : That’s unusual. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee! Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government places a very high degree of importance on occupational health and safety. However, we have some differences with the commonwealth government on how that law will apply, particularly in the mining industry. Asbestos has been proven to be an extraordinarily dangerous material, and difficult in the sense that asbestosis often develops, as members know, 20 or 30 years later. I do not have the detail of those particular laws or how inspectors work and the licensing. So if the Leader of the Opposition is serious about wanting an answer, he should put the question on notice or ask the responsible minister.
The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee! Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government places a very high degree of importance on occupational health and safety. However, we have some differences with the commonwealth government on how that law will apply, particularly in the mining industry. Asbestos has been proven to be an extraordinarily dangerous material, and difficult in the sense that asbestosis often develops, as members know, 20 or 30 years later. I do not have the detail of those particular laws or how inspectors work and the licensing. So if the Leader of the Opposition is serious about wanting an answer, he should put the question on notice or ask the responsible minister.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government places a very high degree of importance on occupational health and safety. However, we have some differences with the commonwealth government on how that law will apply, particularly in the mining industry. Asbestos has been proven to be an extraordinarily dangerous material, and difficult in the sense that asbestosis often develops, as members know, 20 or 30 years later. I do not have the detail of those particular laws or how inspectors work and the licensing. So if the Leader of the Opposition is serious about wanting an answer, he should put the question on notice or ask the responsible minister.
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