9. DARIEN FENTON (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Labour
Does she have confidence the Government is doing everything possible to ensure health and safety in the workplace?
Hon KATE WILKINSON (Minister of Labour) Link to this
Yes, but we are constantly looking at what more we can do to ensure health and safety in the workplace. Ultimately, under our legislation, the responsibility lies with employers to provide safe workplaces. This Government is working hard with business to promote a stronger safety culture.
Does she believe that training workplace health and safety representatives is an important means of ensuring health and safety in the workplace; if so, what response would she have to the Minister for ACC’s claim at the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee this morning that the generic training of workplace health and safety representatives is a touchy-feely notion?
Hon KATE WILKINSON Link to this
I understand that 6,000 places for training were offered, and only 4,000 people took them up, so we have an issue with workplace culture and with encouraging both employers and employees to make sure that their workmates are safe.
In light of recent tragedies such as the Pike River mine disaster, will she reconsider her decision to restrict union organisers’ access to workplaces for health and safety reasons, which was a decision she took against departmental advice?
Hon Damien O’Connor Link to this
Does the Minister still stand by her response to me in a letter dated 10 June 2010, in which she said: “I do not see any need for a review of the current mines inspection regime.”, and does this mean that she will do nothing to improve mine safety until 2013, when the royal commission is due to report back?
Hon KATE WILKINSON Link to this
In response to the first part of the question, yes. In response to the second part, no.
Mr SPEAKERNo. I have just given Labour back its extra supplementary question; Labour now has 28 supplementary questions today. Ministers will learn to stop interjecting when a point of order is called.
Hon Damien O’Connor Link to this
I seek leave to table two documents. The first is a letter from me to the Minister, dated 6 May 2010, in which I alert the Minister to deficiencies in the mines regulations. The second is the Minister’s response to me, dated 10 June 2010, in which she refuses to do anything.
Members must not describe a letter in that way—“refuses to do anything”. What do I do about that? When members do not use the point of order procedure properly—
Hon Simon PowerThere will be no more interjections. When members do not use the point of order properly, it makes it very difficult. Leave is sought to table a document. Let me hear the description of the first letter again.
Hon Damien O’Connor Link to this
The first document is a letter I wrote to the Minister raising issues of concern in relation to safety in mines.
Hon Damien O’Connor Link to this
The second document is the Minister’s response to me, dated 10 June 2010. In the letter the Minister refuses to take up my advice to review the regulations.