FOREIGN WORKERS

The Hon. L.R. BREUER (Giles) (16:08): I know it is unusual for me to rise in this place to speak, but I want to speak about a really important issue that happened in my electorate over the weekend. Members may have heard that at approximately 8.10 on Saturday a fatality occurred during a routine maintenance program on board the CSL floating offshore transfer barge in the sea near Whyalla. The floating offshore transfer barge is a facility utilised to export Arrium's (OneSteel) Project Magnet iron ore to vessels anchored outside the Whyalla harbour limits.

The person killed was a 37-year-old Filipino national who was working in Australia on a 457 visa. I pass on my sincere sympathy to the family of the worker, and to all his workmates and those involved at the facility. I have had a number of concerns in the last couple of years about the welfare of 457 visa workers in my area and also the use of 457 workers in some instances, because I know there are lots of people in Whyalla who would be happy to work in that particular facility. I would ask the company involved, which is Inco Ships Pty Ltd, to cooperate, and I understand they are cooperating very strongly with SafeWork SA, other authorities and also the Department of Immigration.

Currently, the organisation, which has operated in Whyalla for five years continuously, has a workforce complement of 13 per roster and only four of the crew actually have Australian residency or are Australian citizens. The remainder are on 457 visas. They work in Whyalla for three months and then fly back to their country of origin.

Iron ore from OneSteel Whyalla is loaded onto the barges at the pellet plant jetty. It is towed out by tugboat—a magnificent sight to see—to the ship loader which is several kilometres from shore. The iron ore is then unloaded from the barge via the ship loader to the cape size vessels that are moored out there, and that is done through a series of conveyor systems. Generally, about 12 to 16 employees usually live on board.

On 21 June 2011, I wrote to minister Chris Bowen (the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) regarding a number of issues of concern that had been raised by representations from local employees, from other residents, from workers and also from unions, particularly the MUA. We wrote to minister Bowen about these concerns and my office also contacted OneSteel—at the time it was OneSteel—and expressed our concerns.

I understand a very detailed investigation was made as a result of my representations, but also by the unions and others, and a detailed investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman was carried out as a result of this. A lot of work went into it. I would really like to be able to say a lot more on this issue, but I understand there are investigations happening and I would hate to prejudice those investigations or any court case or whatever may follow, if it follows.

So, I will be quiet about issues that have concerned me, but I want to read into the Hansard the media statement from SafeWork SA. I spoke to SafeWork SA today. I know they are putting incredible effort into this, and I have every confidence in them because I have every confidence in my local workplace SafeWork SA employees and the work that they do.

I grew up in an industrial town. I grew up in a family that had the safety of workers very much in mind all the time. Occupational health and safety is primary in our considerations in Whyalla. I also want to thank Jamie Newlyn for his involvement in this as well because I know that the MUA has been very careful in looking after what has been happening in Whyalla. SafeWork SA issued a statement on 15 September saying:

SafeWork SA has been informed of a workplace fatality which occurred at Inco Ships Pty Ltd, Whyalla earlier today, Saturday 15 September 2012.

SafeWork SA inspectors are on-site with an investigation into the matter now underway.

SafeWork SA will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including any breaches of the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act 1986 as well as all parties with potential responsibility for workplace safety.

SafeWork SA will not be releasing any further information about this matter while the investigation is underway given information and items gathered may later be used as evidence in legal proceedings.

I think that media statement probably covers my reasons for not saying too much more. Again, I give my sympathy to all who have been affected by this dreadful fatality, particularly the family of the worker who died.

I know we see a number of 457 workers in my office. They are very hardworking people, who are really there to support their families back in their countries, particularly those who come from the Philippines. They have a very difficult time. They are away from their families for such a long time. I know the fly-in, fly-out workers in Australia have similar problems. These people really work very hard and put a major effort into it. My sympathy does go to his family because they probably will now have serious financial problems. I also hope that they are looked after in this.

It is very sad when you lose a worker. It is very sad for an industrial town, because a lot of these things do not need to happen. It is such a tragedy for people when they lose a worker in a situation like that. A young life; I understand he was only 37 years old. It is such a tragedy for us, and the town has been deeply affected by it, as would any place where something like this happens. I hope we can find some solutions to this. It is a very, very important issue, and I wanted to bring it to the attention of the people in this place and for them to understand how serious the situation is and that we hope that some satisfactory conclusion can be found to all of this.