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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 13 Hansard (27 November) . . Page.. 4880 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

from what I have been able to find out today that not one on-the-spot fine has been issued since Mr Speaker's legislation was passed in March 2001. Why has that not occurred when the necessary legislation is in place? If that legislation is unworkable this government has had two years within which to amend it.

Ms Gallagher: There are no regulations. We have to do the work.

MR SMYTH: This government has done nothing in the two years that it has been in office. Ms MacDonald now has the admission of negligence and avoidance that she was seeking earlier. The legislation has been in place for two years but the regulations do not work.

Ms MacDonald: You are low and you are speaking a load of rubbish.

MR SMYTH: How quickly government members bite back when the truth is revealed. Ms MacDonald was heard in silence. This lack of courtesy from government members is an indication of just how touchy they are.

MR SPEAKER: I will remind you of that, Mr Smyth.

MR SMYTH: I am sure you will, Mr Speaker. I would like to read from one of your press releases. I am an avid fan of the Wayne Berry archive. It is a wonderful thing. Members should go there occasionally and read what Mr Berry said he was going to do when his party was elected to office. I refer to a press release that is headed "Criminal sanctions for workplace injuries and deaths", and that is dated 20 September 2001. This is a revelation of the government's inactivity.

The only thing Ms MacDonald said in debate that is true is that while there is government inactivity people will die. Two years of inactivity on the part of this government has resulted in more workplace deaths. Ms Gallagher said earlier that workplace incidents and deaths are on the increase. What has this government done to stop that? I refer again to Mr Berry's press release dated 20 September 2001, which states:

Labor will immediately move to have these industrial manslaughter laws drafted after the October Assembly election in consultation with industry and the union movement with a view to having these laws in place by the end of 2002.

That was a year ago. Mr Speaker, you are absolved because of the position that you hold. We have now reached the end of 2003 and two Labor industrial relations ministers have not honoured that commitment. Is that an indication of the importance that this government places on occupational health and safety issues?

We could fight this out on ideological grounds as the lines have been drawn. It is a good thing that government members intend to support the union movement and the workers. Opposition members believe that businesses should be given some consideration but workers should also be looked after. For those members who are not aware, I am wearing a CFMEU lapel pin that was given to me by that body because I defended it against the Labor government.

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