SafeWork SA

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:48): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General about SafeWork SA.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: The Regional Voice 2024 report recently published by the South Australian Business Chamber highlighted that at the time of the survey only 26 per cent of regional South Australian businesses were aware of amendments to the Work Health and Safety Act concerning psychosocial hazards, which came into force in December 2023, and also knew how to comply with the new laws. Additionally, 27 per cent of respondents said they were aware of the changes but were unsure of their compliance obligations. Most concerning, 47 per cent were unaware of the changes when the survey was conducted. My questions to the Attorney-General are:

1. How have the new regulations concerning psychosocial hazards at work been communicated and promoted to businesses in regional South Australia?

2. What support has the government provided specifically to regional South Australian business owners and workers to ensure that they understand their responsibilities in regard to psychosocial risk in the workplace?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:50): I thank the honourable member for her question. In relation to changes that are made from time to time to laws as they apply to the community more generally, but specifically to businesses that operate, including changes to work health and safety laws, there are a variety of ways that those changes are communicated.

I know SafeWork SA, through websites, through email letters and through advertisements, publicise changes that are made in a whole variety of ways, including changes that have recently been made to industrial manslaughter laws. I also know that business organisations, including SafeWork SA and other representative bodies, do a tremendous amount of work to inform their members of changes that have been made in various areas.