Page 3445 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 19 September 1990
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copies of documents entitled, "Code of conduct for local government members and staff" and "Principles", together with some annexed information concerning the Ethics Committee practices in other jurisdictions.
MR SPEAKER: It is apparent that the debate is concluded. The question before the house is that the motion concerning a Standing Committee on Ethics be referred to the Administration and Procedures Committee for consideration and report to the Assembly not later than 1 November.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
MR SPEAKER: I believe that then makes the motion moved by Ms Follett superfluous and we go on to the next item of business.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990
Debate resumed from 8 August 1990, on motion by Mr Berry:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MR KAINE (Chief Minister) (12.08): Mr Speaker, as members will be aware, the Occupational Health and Safety Act was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 30 October last year after long and careful consideration, and the Act was proclaimed on 14 November 1989. Arising from the debate in the Assembly, there is no doubt that there is an expectation in some sections of the community that the Act should and will be reviewed after a period of operation.
The main points of contention foreshadowed during debate on the Bill by various parties went particularly to the number of employees in a designated work group and the size of penalties under the legislation. Obviously there were other problems that some groups had with the Bill, including whether there should be any legislation at all. There was a general consensus, however, that some OH and S legislation was required.
The Alliance Government agreed when the Act was passed that implementation should proceed without immediate amendment. The reasons for this view were, firstly, that the ACT was the only State or Territory without such general legislation; and, secondly, that such legislation is an important first step in developing an integrated injury prevention compensation and rehabilitation strategy which has the potential to generate economic benefits through the significant reduction of labour on-costs in the Territory, as well as having social benefits for workers and their families by reducing the incidence and severity of occupational accidents and disease.
The importance of this link was reinforced by the recent report by Coopers and Lybrand into workers compensation in
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