SA Unions

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:24): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to addressing a question to the Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector regarding allegations of union bullying.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: I wanted the Adelaide 500 again.

The PRESIDENT: You don't get to choose your own questions.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: An article in The Advertiser today, titled Union Workers Bullied, noted grievances, including being yelled at, threats of dismissal, belittling, unrealistic demands and a toxic atmosphere. One worker wrote, and I quote, 'Now we live in fear within our own union. I constantly feel panicked.' My questions to the Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector are:

1. Is SafeWork SA investigating the allegations of bullying, harassment and unsafe working conditions at the Australian Education Union?

2. If not, as the minister directly responsible for workplace safety, will the minister be instructing SafeWork SA to investigate these allegations?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:25): I thank the honourable member for her question. I think I have said it before, maybe even as recently as this week: under our work health and safety regime there is an obligation on a PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking) to provide a safe work environment. If someone doesn't provide a safe work environment, that can lead to investigation and, potentially, a possible prosecution.

If there are people in workplaces in South Australia who feel the workplace isn't safe—as we have had members of this chamber talk about just in the last month, wanting a safe workplace—I encourage them to report it to our regulator, SafeWork SA.