OH&S bill deferred

By Joan Lemaire

NSW Industrial Relations Minister John Della Bosca has agreed to defer the introduction of the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Amendment Bill into Parliament to allow further consultation.

The consultation period has been extended until July 7.

The O&HS amendment bill in its current form diminishes employer responsibility for OH&S, places new responsibilities on employees and will make it more difficult for unions and WorkCover to prosecute employers.

Unions NSW opposed the bill and demanded more time for consultation. Affiliated unions are working together to develop a joint submission to the Government.

The NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 leads the way in ensuring consultation with workers, the power of unions to prosecute and establishing an absolute responsibility on employers to make both workplaces, and systems of work, safe. Collectively, unions will oppose any attempts to water down these provisions.

Injury rates and workplace deaths have been significantly reduced since the introduction of the OH&S Act 2000. The Minister has stated that the level of work related injury is at its lowest in 18 years.

Unions will work together to maintain strong legislation which protects workers' rights to a safe workplace.

Joan Lemaire is an Industrial Officer.

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June 2006 contents