WORKPLACE SAFETY

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:36): My question is to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Will the minister inform the chamber how South Australia compares against other jurisdictions when it comes to reducing workplace injury?

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for Gambling) (14:37): As members would be aware, all states and territories are working towards a 40 per cent reduction in injury claims by 2012, as agreed under the National Occupational Health and Safety Strategy 2002-12. I am pleased to inform the chamber today that South Australia is well on its way to achieving the nationally-agreed target on reducing workplace harm.

According to the latest edition of the Workplace Relations Ministers' Council's Comparative Performance Monitoring Report, South Australia and New South Wales were the only two jurisdictions that met the required rates of improvement at the end of 2008-09. The comparative performance monitoring reports provide trend analysis on workplace health and safety outcomes and workers compensation schemes operating in Australia and New Zealand.

I am pleased to say that, based on those statistics, South Australia had a 36.5 per cent improvement in injury reduction, exceeding the required benchmark at that point of 28 per cent. South Australia now leads other jurisdictions in injury reduction rates as we progress towards this nationally agreed target. While more still needs to be done, this result is a heartening indication that the government's commitment to occupational health and safety is showing results.

As part of its key role as the occupational health and safety regulator, SafeWork SA delivers a number of proactive injury prevention initiatives targeting high-risk industries and businesses that require further support to address their OH&S needs. Since 2007, SafeWork SA's centrepiece initiative, the Industry Improvement Program, has engaged these employers in small, medium and large enterprises using a range of intervention strategies to build their capabilities to prevent work-related injuries and illness.

Proactive programs such as these operate in conjunction with other core business assistance, education and compliance activities undertaken by SafeWork SA inspectors to improve safety outcomes in workplaces across all industry sectors within South Australia. The government remains committed to working in partnership with employers, workers and their representatives to ensure that we all work towards the goal of further reduction in injuries and accidents across all workplaces.