FAIR WORK SYSTEM

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:15): My question is to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Will the minister provide the council with details on the role South Australia plays in the national Fair Work system?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (15:15): I thank the honourable member for his important question. Most members in this place would be aware that from 1 January this year the full private sector in South Australia—including non-government community services, private schools and universities—is now covered by the commonwealth Fair Work Act 2009.

Recently, in February, the South Australian government signed a three year contract with the Fair Work Ombudsman to provide education, information and compliance services to implement the Fair Work system. Under the contract, SafeWork SA will provide transitional education visits (TEVs) to assist employers transferring to the new system. These visits will be unobtrusive and will focus exclusively on providing meaningful support to employers so that they understand their new workplace rights and obligations. Transitional educational visits will involve undertaking a very significant number of visits to employers across regional and metropolitan areas in South Australia.

During the transitional educational visits, inspectors will provide for the specific needs of the employer they are visiting, and will provide a tailored suite of education products. Amongst other things, these products will include specific fact sheets, business self-assessment sheets, best practice guides, Fair Work education and information program materials. The visits will be based on geographical areas within metropolitan and regional South Australia and will mainly focus on businesses that were previously in the South Australian industrial relations system, such as sole traders and partnerships.

In 2010 SafeWork SA will undertake 5,000 transitional education visits with a further 2,500 a year in 2011 and 2012. As at the end of April 2010 SafeWork SA inspectors have completed 1,587 transitional education visits and are on target to meet the 5,000 TEVs scheduled for 2010. In addition to the transitional visits, SafeWork SA will undertake at least 500 complaint investigations a year and 500 targeted compliance activities a year for the next three years. I commend SafeWork SA for its commitment and leadership in advancing this important work.