Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Julia Gillard, today announced that Safe Work Australia has commenced operating as an independent statutory agency.
Safe Work Australia will continue to play a pivotal role in realising the harmonisation of occupational health and safety (OHS) laws across the country.
Harmonised OHS laws will remove the current fragmented and inconsistent approach to workplace safety and provide greater certainty and protections for employers and employees respectively.
Safe Work Australia replaces the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) which operated within the Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations.
The Australian Government will contribute $36.3 million over four years to fund 50 per cent of Safe Work Australia: the remaining 50 per cent will be funded by the States and Territories in proportion to their population.
As revealed in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook released today, the abolition of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council and the transfer of functions to the new body will result in a net saving of $17 million over four years.
The establishment as a statutory agency gives effect to the Intergovernmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform in Occupational Health and Safety, agreed by COAG on
3 July 2008.
The importance of harmonised OHS laws has long been recognised as a critical area for regulatory reform.
Currently, there are ten principal OHS statutes across Australia; six State, two Territory and two Australian Government and over 400 OHS regulations and codes of practice.
Harmonisation of OHS will ensure that equal standards and protections apply across the nation which is vitally important for the safety of workers in an increasingly mobile labour force.
Safe Work Australia will comprise 15 members.
This includes an independent Chair, nine members representing the Commonwealth and each state and territory, two members representing the interests of workers, two representing the interests of employers and the Chief Executive Officer of Safe Work Australia.
Together, the members and agency staff will work to improve OHS outcomes and workers’ compensation arrangements across Australia.
Existing Chair, Mr Tom Phillips AM, and members of the Safe Work Australia Council have been reappointed to Safe Work Australia.
Mr Rex Hoy has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Safe Work Australia for a five-year term following a merit selection process.
Safe Work Australia has been operating as an executive agency since 1 July 2009.
The model OHS legislation, consisting of an exposure draft of the model Act, key administrative regulations and the consultation Regulation Impact Statement is currently open for public comment. The public comment period will close on Monday 9 November.
The model OHS laws were based on demonstrable performance outcomes established by the independent review. Harmonised OHS laws are essential to Australia's future productivity and prosperity.
For further information on Safe Work Australia and model OHS legislation, please visit www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au