Tomorrow the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Julia Gillard will introduce legislation to establish Safe Work Australia into the Federal Parliament.
This Bill reaffirms the Rudd Government’s commitment to safer workplaces.
As promised prior to the last election, the Rudd Government is delivering a new national independent body to lead and improve occupational health and safety (OHS) and workers’ compensation arrangements in Australia.
Safe Work Australia will be an independent statutory authority, established by the Australian Government with an initial budget of approximately $17 million.
Safe Work Australia will have an independent chair and will comprise of representatives of the Commonwealth, each state and territory, employers and unions.
Importantly, the Australian Government will provide 50 per cent of the budget and the states and territories will provide the other half. The contribution of each state and territory will be proportional to its population.
One of Safe Work Australia’s key functions will be to develop model OHS legislation for adoption by all jurisdictions, delivering on the Government’s commitment to working cooperatively with states and territories to harmonise OHS laws in Australia.
The announcement of the new body follows the Council of Australian Governments, historic signing of an Intergovernmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform in Occupational Health and Safety, on 3 July 2008.
The Intergovernmental Agreement commits all jurisdictions to a process for the adoption of model OHS laws, and will enable the development of uniform, equitable and effective safety standards and protections for all Australians.