Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I am very pleased to advise that yesterday the federal government introduced the work health and safety bill into this parliament, and the parliament will get a chance to consider that in coming months. This is implementing the historic agreement signed by all Australian governments to create a national occupational health and safety framework, replacing the nine different acts and over 400 pieces of regulation. Other governments are moving to implement the harmonised laws: Queensland and New South Wales have passed legislation, South Australia and the ACT have introduced bills and the others are in the process of introducing bills.

Employers strongly support these measures, which Access Economics estimate will save businesses around $180 million per annum. However, the WA government has indicated that it intends to depart from the agreed model in several ways. This is despite the fact that all other states committed to introduce uniform laws, and it has the potential to undermine one of the most important reforms on the COAG agenda. (Time expired)