Statutes Amendment (Industrial Relations Consultative Council) Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 27 October 2015.)

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:50): I rise to support the Statutes Amendment (Industrial Relations Consultative Council) Bill 2015 and am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this bill. As honourable members would be aware, the government made a commitment to reforming state government boards and committees. The amendment bill is a further step to reducing red tape and adopting a new broad engagement approach for key industrial relations, work health and safety, and asbestos policy issues.

The amendment bill will establish the Industrial Relations Consultative Council (IRCC), which will replace the following committees: the Industrial Relations Advisory Committee, SafeWork SA Advisory Council and the Asbestos Advisory Committee. At times these committees have been considered duplicative, with the same members often represented on more than one committee.

The formation of the new council will create a single streamlined consultative body with members from key representative organisations with experience relevant to the breadth of industrial relations and work health and safety issues. The IRCC will consider the full range of industrial relations and work health and safety issues. It will also provide high-level advice to the Minister for Industrial Relations facilitating the effective and efficient administration of the law. The establishment of the new IRCC will also create a cost saving for the government via a reduction in fees.

I understand that in addition to the council there will be the ability to establish smaller and time-limited reference groups to consider specific issues, enabling the provision of comprehensive advice to government. I support the establishment of the new Industrial Relations Consultative Council and commend the bill to the council.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:53): I would like to thank honourable members for their indications of support for the Statutes Amendment (Industrial Relations Consultative Council) Bill 2015 and their contributions to the second reading. I am pleased to provide the following information in response to questions from honourable members.

The Hon. Tammy Franks asked will the goals and measures outlined in the strategic plan of the SafeWork SA Advisory Council continue to be implemented under the Industrial Relations Consultative Council, and will the target of a 50 per cent reduction in workplace injuries by 2022 continue to be a target under the new council. I am advised that it is expected that the goals and targets within the SafeWork SA Advisory Council Strategic Plan 2012-17 will continue under the IRCC, subject only to any changes that the IRCC may wish to make once established.

SafeWork SA remains the lead agency responsible for South Australia's Strategic Plan strategy to achieve a target of a 50 per cent reduction in workplace injuries by 2022. Our state target supports the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022, which aims to have a reduction in the incidence rate of claims resulting in one or more weeks off work of at least 30 per cent.

The rate of serious injury claims involving 10 or more days' lost time has reduced by 33 per cent from June 2002 to June 2012, I am advised, and South Australia's rate has continued to reduce by 13.33 per cent from 2012 to September 2014, which is ahead of the target reduction of 11.25 per cent within the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022, I am advised.

The new council will be expected to continue providing high level advice to the Minister for Industrial Relations to facilitate the effective and efficient administration of laws covering safe and fair workplaces which will include strategies aligned with meeting the current target. I commend the bill to the house.

Bill read a second time.

Committee Stage

Bill taken through committee without amendment.

Third Reading

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:57): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.