03:36 pm, Wednesday 15 May, 2013

Photo: SafetyCulture Library

The Australian Government will invest more than $10.5 million to establish a national approach in protecting the people from asbestos-related diseases.

This was revealed by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten on Tuesday.

“Asbestos is a cruel, indiscriminate killer, and because of its widespread use over much of the 20^th century, it remains a persistent threat to Australians,” said Mr Shorten.

“In 2010, 642 Australians died from mesothelioma, and for every death attributed to mesothelioma, it’s estimated two further people die from lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

“Over the next 20 years, up to 40,000 Australians are expected to be diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease. There are children not yet born who’ll die of an asbestos-related disease.”

Just this year, Mr Shorten introduced legislation into Parliament to establish the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency. (Read SafetyCulture report).

“This is an example of this Government’s commitment to protect Australians by leading the first nationally coordinated approach to handling asbestos beyond our workplaces.”

One of the agency’s missions is to implement a plan to address illegal dumping, to encourage safe disposal across the country, and to establish a strategy for the staged removal of asbestos-containing materials from government and commercial structures.

The Bill to establish the agency is now before the House of Representatives. It is the Government’s objective that the agency will start operations from 1 July 2013.

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04:07 pm, Saturday 11 May, 2013

The Herald Sun has revealed that the Fair Work Commission will be allocated $20 million in Tuesday’s Federal Budget to take on the new role dealing with workplace bullying from July 1 this year.

Currently lost productivity because of bullying costs the economy about $36 billion a year.

Recently Bill Shorten, the Workplace Relations Minister, announced changes to the role of the Fair Work Commission and the intention is for the Commission to use these additional funds to resolve complaints about bullying.

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06:55 pm, Monday 29 April, 2013

Photo: Ministers’ Media Centre

Employment Minister Bill Shorten encouraged Australian workers to observe even small hazards in their workplaces as it could result to injuries or death.

Speaking after unveiling the National Workers Memorial at Kings Park in Canberra for the inaugural International Workers Memorial Day, Mr Shorten said most workplace related deaths and injuries are predictable safety failures.

According to an AAP report, Mr Shorten said both employers and workers have the responsibility to ensure that people are able to return home from work safely.

“It’s not a systems failure or risk assessment failure, or hazard identification failure and all those other handsome words without tears,” said Mr Shorten.

“It is the failure that springs as a ready-made monster from the knowing tolerance of small daily hazards at the daily tasks.

“It’s the small daily hazards, which left unchecked, gang up on a worker and kill them.”

About 300 workers die in the country every year due to workplace injuries. AAP further reported that another 2000 are condemned to die from industrial diseases resulting from exposure.

Mr Shorten assured the public that the government would continue to work with states and territories to harmonise work health and safety laws.

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03:50 pm, Tuesday 2 April, 2013

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten has released on Saturday the report from the Review of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (the SRC Act).

The government commissioned the review to ensure that injured workers covered by the Act and Comcare receive sufficient support to recover and return to work as quickly as possible.

“Workplace injuries can take a terrible toll on workers and their families, and can cause a loss of productivity and morale in a workplace,” said Mr Shorten.

“The Gillard Government is determined to create a best practice workers compensation scheme in the Commonwealth jurisdiction.

“It is vital that the Comcare Scheme is focused on early and effective intervention to promote recovery of injured workers.

“It is also critical that employers and Comcare are proactive in supporting injured workers from the point of injury, during rehabilitation and when they return to work.”

The review was conducted by Dr Allan Hawke AC and Mr Peter Hanks QC and found a number of areas where the SRC Act and Comcare Scheme are being effective but also found opportunities to modernise its operation.

The report has 33 recommendations by Dr Hawke to improve performance, governance and funding framework of the Comcare scheme and 104 recommendations from Mr Hanks to update and improve the SRC Act and act on anomalies in the current legislation.

“The report provides a range of ideas on ways to improve the operation of the Comcare Scheme while ensuring benefits remain fair and equitable for injured workers, especially those more seriously injured and incapacitated,” said Mr Shorten.

“I want to thank Dr Hawke and Mr Hanks for their work and everyone else who contributed to the review.

“Over the next period, I will be consulting with scheme stakeholders on the recommendations. These consultations will help inform our response to the Review to build a strong and effective rehabilitation and compensation for workers in the Comcare Scheme.”

Comcare welcomes the report and said amendments to federal laws have made the legislation complex.

“This is a great opportunity to get this right and improve outcomes for injured workers and scheme employers,” said Comcare in a media release.

The SRC Act and Comcare Scheme cover public sector workers, and a small number of private companies who self-insure under the Comcare Scheme.

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05:17 pm, Thursday 14 February, 2013

Photo: SafetyCulture Library

The Federal Government received several criticisms over its handling of the Building Code 2013.

According to a joint statement by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and other industry associations in the building and construction sector, they are concerned that the new Code was published only two days before its commencement and that it was announced without “the dialogue that the industry would expect on issues of such significance.”

“Industry cannot be properly informed of the requirements of this new Building Code in less than 48 hours and the integrity of enforcement and compliance is this undermined,” they said in a statement.

“Consultations after the fact is poor regulation making practice.”

“Businesses, workers and sub-contractors are entitled to the certainty of knowing how their workplace arrangements, including those already established, conform to government rules about tendering on publicly funded projects.”

“On the face of it, the new Building Code appears to present practical and legal difficulties for businesses and sub-contractors, who tender for both federal and state government work given the unilateral decision of the Gillard government to try and override state government procurement guidelines.”

They say the issues should be addressed “as a matter of urgency, if the industry’s interests are to be respected.”

The Building Code 2013 took effect on 1 February 2013. The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten said the Building Code 2013 will cut red tape by allowing building contractors and industry participants to more easily demonstrate compliance with a range of requirements relevant to building work. (Read SafetyCulture Report)

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04:39 pm, Tuesday 12 February, 2013

A push by the current federal government for victims to complain directly to a national body could mean that workplace bullies could be awarded fines up to $33,000.

This would replace the current system of reporting to the state and territory health and safety authorities.

Bill Shorten, the Workplace Relations Minister, has said the plan would enable the Fair Work Commission, that is an independent authority on workplace relations, to attempt to resolve disputes or refer them back to the relevant state or territory body.

He said that in an attempt to sort out complaints quicker the commission would start considering disputes within 14 days of receipt.

It has not yet been determined whether the Fair Work Commission would receive additional funding to support the proposed system according to Mr Shorten.

At a recent Labor caucus meeting Prime Minister Julia Gillard said there had been some “shocking examples of workplace bullying.”

Mr Shorten said that the state regulators did the best that they could under the current system but it was currently too slow and each regulator did something different.

With the proposed scheme people could seek assistance directly from the national Fair Work Commission who could either make orders itself or refer tha matter to the appropriate state regulator.

Mr Shorten said state regulators did the best they could with the resources they had, but every state did something different and workplace relations was increasingly a national issue. He described the existing process as ‘‘clunky’’ and too slow.

He said the commission might be able to offer conciliation but also have the authority to issue civil penalty orders and fines. The federal government is looking at fines up to $33,000.

A new national definition of workplace bullying will also be adopted according to Mr Shorten as:

‘‘Bullying, harassment or victimisation means repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or a group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety.’’

directed towards a worker or a group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety.’’

The government says that amendments will also recognise that “bullying does not include reasonable management practices including performance.”

Ged Kearney, the Australian Council of Trade Unions president, said that he welcomed the proposed changes because as a result of bullying it is estimated that lost productivity costs are in the billions of dollars.

It is anticipated that these amendments to the Fair Work Act will be brought to the autumn sessions of Parliament.

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02:33 pm, Monday 11 February, 2013

A new Safe Work Australia Chair has been appointed by the Minister for Employment Relations, Bill Shorten.

Miss Ann Sherry AO will be appointed to this position for three years. She is also the Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Australia, the largest cruise ship operator in Australasia.

Prior to holding this position, she was with Westpac for 12 years. Her positions included Chief Executive Officer, Westpac New Zealand; Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Melbourne; and Group Executive Officer of People and Performance.

Ms Sherry was previously First Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Status of Women in Canberra, advising the Prime Minister on policies and programmes to improve the status of women. She was the country’s representative to the United Nations forums on human rights and women’s rights.

Ms Sherry is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Some of the honours she received include an Order of Australia of her contribution to the community through corporate management policies and practices that embrace gender equality, social justice and work and family practices.  She was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Macquarie University in recognition of her contribution to Australian business and civic life.

Minister Shorten congratulated the new Safe Work Australia Chief on her appointment.

“Ann brings a wealth of experience to the work health and safety and worker’s compensation table through many years as a leader in Australian business,” said Minister Shorten.

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04:36 pm, Monday 26 November, 2012

Minister Bill Shorten
Photo: Ministers’ Media Centre

A parliamentary inquiry into workplace bullying urges the Federal Government to establish a national service to provide advice and assistance to workers and employers.

The inquiry also recommends a hotline service for harassed workers.

Three hundred submissions were heard, most of them from workers who have been bullied, as well as organisations.

Other recommendations include strengthening existing laws on workplace bullying and creating a clear definition of workplace bullying.

Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten who spearheaded the inquiry, says bullying is a serious safety issue among workers and he will look into the recommendations quickly.

“One thing I do know, is that workplace bullying is a real issue,” said Mr Shorten.

“Repeated unreasonable conduct which leaves people feeling disempowered and unhappy is absolutely not to be accepted. There needs to be zero tolerance for workplace bullying so I think that this parliamentary committee is getting a positive issue up on the national stage.”

ABC News reported that the Productivity Commission estimates workplace bullying to cost the country between $6 billion to $36 billion every year.

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10:54 am, Thursday 1 November, 2012

Photo: Media Centre

Minister Bill Shorten launched the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2012 (Australian Strategy) yesterday at Parliament House, which supplies an outline to assist the development of work health and safety nationwide.

The Australian Strategy endorses a collaborative approach to work health and safety between the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, industry, unions and other relevant organisations.

Mr Shorten said that the Australian Strategy provides a new direction for work health and safety over the next decade, an area that often doesn’t get the attention that is needs until it is too late.

He said that every worker in Australia should be able to return home safely and while a great deal of good work has been done to improve workplace safety, there is still more that can be done.

About 250 workers lose their lives each year and about 130,000 receive injuries where there return to work after more than a week away from work.

The Australian Strategy is intended for governments, work health and safety regulators, industry, unions and organisations that shape work health and safety and workplaces across Australia.

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12:38 pm, Wednesday 31 October, 2012

The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten announced the winner of the Safety Ambassador of the Year Awards at a ceremony at Australian Parliament House in Canberra.

Jacinta Macaulay from Ron Finemore Transport was given the award for her commitment to improving work health and safety.

This year’s winner is a Return to Work and Claims Officer at Ron Finemore Transport. By analysing recurring injuries, she was able to identify areas for improvement at her workplace.

Ms Macaulay’s efforts to improve workplace health and safety included the development of customised solutions like the ‘Fifth Wheel Coupling Aid’ and retro fitting of chequer plating to truck access ladders. Ms Macaulay also introduced the ‘Air Hawk Truck Seat’ to minimise injuries for truck drivers and assisted in developing work health and safety training for new starters.
The Safety Ambassador of the Year Award aims to acknowledge individuals who demonstrate a commitment to improving work health and safety in their workplaces. It recognises people who lead by example, raise the awareness of the importance of a safe working environment and encourage others to become involved in work health and safety.

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