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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 7 Hansard (17 October) . . Page.. 1693 ..

MR DE DOMENICO (continuing):

Mr Speaker, this Government is about small, cost-efficient government, and this is evident in the approach we have taken to this matter. The Government needs an appropriate statutory body to advise it on workers compensation and occupational rehabilitation matters, and has adopted the cost-effective approach of extending the role of an existing body to cover the additional functions rather than create a separate new body. This approach simplifies the administration of the advisory body from both the Government point of view and the point of view of those organisations represented on it, all of whom we have consulted with, by the way.

In addition to the changes to the functions of the Occupational Health and Safety Council, some other changes have been made to the council. These other changes are as follows: Council membership has been increased from 11 to 12 by the inclusion of an additional member to be appointed by the Minister. This change will permit the appointment to the council of a representative of the workers compensation insurers. The number required for a quorum at meetings of the council has been increased from five to seven. The original requirement for five members to be present for a quorum related to a council of only nine members. Last year, I am advised, the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1989 was changed to increase the membership to 11, but the number for a quorum was not changed. The Government believes that seven members representative of a tripartite party should be present from a council of 12 in order for a quorum to be present. The Occupational Health and Safety (Amendment) Act 1995 removes the discriminatory provisions which preclude members being appointed beyond their sixty-fifth birthday. The Occupational Health and Safety (Amendment) Act 1995 also provides members of the council with statutory protection from liability in respect of their work on the council.

Mr Speaker and members of the Assembly, this Bill, together with the related Workers' Compensation (Amendment) Bill (No. 2) 1995, provides the Government with formalised mechanisms to advise the Minister on all aspects of the important changes which are to occur in occupational health and safety, workers compensation and occupational rehabilitation. It will play an important role in ensuring that the changes which the ACT must make to achieve national uniformity, to eliminate our differences with New South Wales and to keep local industry competitive are made with the advice of the industry partners on whom those changes will fall. As I said, Mr Speaker, this is not an idea that came into the Government's head. It is an idea that was brought forward to this Assembly by Mr Berry. We think it is a good idea, and I commend the Bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Berry) adjourned.

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