Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

I might deal with the second question first.

Obviously, the government agrees with your concern about the accident involving the Work for the Dole program in Toowoomba on 19 April 2016. It was a tragic accident, taking the life of a young jobseeker, Mr Joshua Park-Fing, who was a participant. Any workplace accident is a tragedy. Unfortunately, they usually occur entirely through accident and through no fault of any particular person. I think in the case of this accident, it was a situation that could easily have been avoided. But it was not avoided on this occasion and this man's life has been taken, which is a great tragedy for him and for his family and friends.

The matter was reported to the police immediately—as the member for Chifley knows because he has been kept very well informed, I think, by the department—and to workplace health and safety in Queensland, which is the relevant regulatory authority at the state level. WorkSafe Queensland is still currently conducting its investigation into the accident, and the Department of Employment is cooperating in that investigation, as much as it possibly can. Of its own, the Department of Employment has investigated the matters that fall within its responsibilities as the program owner, including compliance with the deed requirements by the jobactive provider.

In terms of the member for Chifley's specific question about releasing the government's own report: my understanding is that consideration will be given to that when the Queensland government has completed its inquiry, and then there will be a coordinated discussion between the various ministers, state and federal, about how that might be achieved. Any of the findings from the Department of Employment's review and the outcomes of the formal investigation will be considered to determine future policy, contractual requirements and operational processes that it has been advised might need to be revised.

Obviously, the government takes all health and safety concerns very seriously. On this occasion the Work for the Dole activity at the Toowoomba Showground was suspended immediately. The activity was never reactivated and has now ceased. The Department of Employment has advised me that the participants who were present or in the vicinity of the incident were offered counselling.

Does the member for Chifley want to ask me a further question about that matter?

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