Work Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015

Opposed the bill, arguing it was designed to appease union heavyweights rather than improve safety, and that removing the 24-hour notice requirement for workplace entry would enable union misuse and harm small businesses.

“Here we are again debating legislation with the sole aim of appeasing union heavyweights rather than improving the Queensland economy and creating jobs.”— 2015-10-14View Hansard

As Treasurer and minister responsible, moved the bill as delivering on an election commitment to restore critical workplace safety protections removed by the LNP, including immediate right of entry for permit holders, the power for HSRs to direct cessation of unsafe work, and reinstating the electrical safety commissioner.

“No-one can deny that when there is a genuine, immediate and imminent risk to a worker's safety work in the affected area should cease immediately, and this bill restores this important protection.”— 2015-10-13View Hansard

Spoke in reply defending the bill as meeting the government's election commitment to prioritise worker safety, arguing that immediate entry access for permit holders is critical for safety and that the LNP's 24-hour notice requirement was based on a false premise.

“This bill is not about polls, it is not about the LNP's opposition to employee representation, it is about the safety of the constituency in every corner of Queensland at every type of workplace.”— 2015-10-14View Hansard

Opposed all provisions of the bill as payback to CFMEU union bosses, citing the royal commission into trade union corruption, the CFMEU's 822 alleged law breaches, and arguing the existing 24-hour notice requirement and workplace safety statistics showed the current laws were working.

“Of course, the bill is not at all about safety. It is another example of payback to the union bosses for their support, both financially and with people power, during the recent state election campaign.”— 2015-10-13View Hansard

As committee chair, defended the bill as restoring nationally harmonised workplace health and safety laws after years of evidence-based development involving thousands of submissions, arguing vulnerable workers need HSR protections and employers should not get 24 hours to clean up hazardous situations.

“We were not given any evidence during our inquiry which justified an employer needing 24 hours before they could allow a union official to attend a potentially hazardous work situation.”— 2015-10-13View Hansard

As deputy chair, opposed the bill, arguing the current legislation was working with massive improvements in safety statistics, that the CFMEU was responsible for over 90 per cent of right-of-entry complaints, and that government committee members ignored all evidence to follow union instructions.

“We have workplace health and safety legislation that is not failing and is not broken. Indeed, we have seen massive improvements.”— 2015-10-13View Hansard

Drew on his experience as a paramedic and firefighter attending workplace fatalities to support the bill, arguing that while one person goes to work and does not come home, the system is inadequate.

“To look in the eyes of a worker's family member and tell them that their husband is dead is one of the hardest things I have ever done, and I have done that.”— 2015-10-13View Hansard

Opposed the bill as repayment to the union movement, arguing the government ignored submissions from CCIQ, HIA, and Master Builders, that workplace injuries had been reduced without unfettered union access, and that halving penalties for right-of-entry breaches defied logic.

“Honestly, unless you are a member of the union movement, this Labor government does not care what it is that you have to say.”— 2015-10-13View Hansard

Supported the bill, arguing prevention is better than cure and that empowering HSRs protects vulnerable workers including young people, those with disabilities, and those from non-English speaking backgrounds who may fear disciplinary action for stopping unsafe work.

“We do not need the first experience of our young Queenslanders in the workplace to be sustaining a serious injury at work.”— 2015-10-13View Hansard

Provided a detailed review of submissions for and against each provision. Noted support for reinstating the electrical safety commissioner but opposed the right-of-entry changes, reduced penalties, and four-day absence reporting as impediments to business that serve only the union movement.

“This is another in a growing list of impediments to business, economic growth and employment in the state and it needs to stop.”— 2015-10-13View Hansard

Supported the bill as part of a comprehensive raft of industrial relations reforms, arguing that restoring safety protections makes economic sense by increasing consumer confidence and creating certainty in workplaces.

“Since our government committed to restoring workplace health and safety rights, we have seen consumer confidence rise to the highest level in almost two years.”— 2015-10-13View Hansard

Opposed the bill as part of a trifecta of workplace vandalism by the Labor government, arguing the right-of-entry changes and reduced penalties are acceding to union pressure while the four-day absence reporting introduces inconsistency with other jurisdictions.

“We have seen the trifecta of workplace vandalism by this Labor government since its election—the ideological agenda of returning Queensland to the dark ages with respect to industrial reform.”— 2015-10-13View Hansard

Drew on his experience as an HSR in the electricity supply and mining industries to support the bill, arguing the role of HSRs is vital for worker safety and that the 24-hour waiting period for investigations is as ludicrous as requiring police to give notice before investigating an accident.

“Imagine the police called to a road accident where there is a fatality and told they have to give 24 hours notice to investigate! That would be ludicrous.”— 2015-10-13View Hansard