NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS

In reply to the Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15 September 2011) (First Session).

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations): I have been provided the following information:

1. The Commonwealth Government did not give a commitment to the South Australian Government that it would include 'impacts in dollar terms' for each State or Territory in the Decision Regulation Impact Statement for National Harmonisation of Work Health and Safety Regulations and Codes of Practice.

2. Overall, harmonisation of OHS laws will result in lower administrative costs, less regulatory duplication, improved efficiency and improved work health and safety outcomes for all South Australians.

3. South Australia commissioned a state-specific Regulatory Impact Statement (the SA RIS) on the model Work Health and Safety Regulations on 5 January 2012.

A report prepared by Deloitte Access Economics indicated that the safety benefits of harmonisation would exceed the compliance costs, and the long-term return to the South Australian economy would exceed the one-off implementation cost.