SafeWork SA

The Hon. S.G. WADE (15:16): My questions are to the Minister for Industrial Relations regarding SafeWork SA.

1. Does the minister consider that the dismantling of the Australian Building and Construction Commission represents an appreciable risk to the relative calm of South Australian industrial relations?

2. What action has the minister taken to protect and preserve the relative calm of South Australian industrial relations and strengthen SafeWork SA in the face of the dismantling of the Australian Building and Construction Commission?

3. In particular, how many additional inspectors have been employed by SafeWork SA since the federal government announced the dismantling of the Australian Building and Construction Commission?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:17): I thank the honourable member for his question. I can answer it very simply: no, I don't think that the dismantling of that body is problematic for the South Australian business environment. South Australia has already for many years, in fact decades, had an enviable industrial relations record.

As I have said in this chamber before, if anyone has any evidence of any illegal activity I would encourage them, whether they be members of parliament or whether they be businesses or otherwise, to go forward to the relevant authorities with those.

So we don't believe that the abolition of the body that has pretty extraordinary coercive powers will have a detrimental effect on what has been a harmonious relation in South Australia. But, as I say, if anyone has any evidence of any untoward behaviour, any illegality, I would absolutely encourage them to come forward to the relevant authorities.