National OHS Review

The Rudd Government as part of its first term agenda has instigated reviews into Occupational Health and Safety and Workers Compensation.

On 4 April 2008, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, announced a national review into model Occupational Health and Safety Laws.

The review will be conducted by an advisory panel to be chaired by Robin Stewart-Crompton. The other panel members are Barry Sherriff and Stephanie Mayman.

As such the ACTU, Trades and Labour Councils and affiliate unions including the ASU have been working on submissions for the National review into Model OHS Laws. The ASU has been working at a national level to ensure the highest level of protection from each state is reflected in the new Model Act. This includes discussions on Health and Safety Representative Powers, Consultation Provisions, Protection from Discrimination for HSRs and Entry Rights for Unions.

Further, at the most recent Council of Australian Government (COAG) Meeting on the 3rd of July a strong statement came from the Premiers and Prime Minister that “COAG recognised legitimate concerns about workplace safety and reaffirmed its requirement that there be no reduction or compromise in workplace safety.”

Initial reporting back from the National Review will be at the end of October 2008 and the final report will be handed down at the end of January 2009. The ASU will keep you up to date with all news on this topic as it arrives.

For more information contact ASU Occupational Health & Safety Officer Graham Wilson on 9342 3465or email gwilson@asuvic.com