Page 1717 - Week 06 - Thursday, 3 June 2021
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MR GENTLEMAN: As previously announced, yes, we are moving ahead with the introduction of industrial manslaughter as an offence under the Work Health and Safety Act. We knew that we could never count on the federal Liberal government to stand up for workers and their right to strong protections. That is what the industrial manslaughter legislation is. It is a protection for workers. It provides a strong deterrent against dangerous workplace practices by increasing penalties. It also expands the scope of who is responsible for workplace safety. Every worker has the right to return home safe from work.
It is because of this right that we are establishing industrial manslaughter as a work health and safety offence, because sometimes people do not come home safely. We need to ensure that their families have every opportunity to access justice for their loved ones. I am pleased to have the support of industry and employee representatives in the ACT on this important matter, and look forward to introducing the legislation soon.
DR PATERSON: Minister, can you please update the Assembly on the implementation of the labour hire licensing scheme?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Dr Paterson for her interest in safety across the ACT, too. The scheme commenced last week, on 27 May. The scheme is administered by WorkSafe ACT, and labour hire providers can now apply for a licence via the WorkSafe ACT website.
The scheme is designed to encourage responsible employment practices in the ACT labour hire sector, recognise legitimate providers and ensure that workers can expect equity in workplace standards. Those working under labour hire arrangements can be vulnerable to poor treatment at work, such as underpayment, unauthorised deductions from wages and unsafe working conditions.
The licensing system creates a framework for preventing and responding to noncompliance, and it provides appropriate mechanisms to ensure that the health, safety and rights of workers are being protected to the high standard expected in the ACT. Labour hire providers will be required to have a licence from November this year, and information sessions on the scheme, including the application process, are being run in the coming weeks. I encourage labour hire providers to visit the WorkSafe ACT website to learn more about the scheme and book into an information session.
Mr Barr: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.
Canberra—proposed national park city
DR PATERSON (Murrumbidgee) (3.03): I move:
That this Assembly:
(1) notes that:
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