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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-05-29 Daily Xml
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LIFE QUILT SA

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:50): My question is to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Can the minister advise the council about the Life Quilt SA initiative?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:50): I thank the honourable member for his very important question. On 20 April I had the honour of launching the South Australian Life Quilt and associated videos and stories. Life Quilt SA is a community art project which commemorates the lives of people who have tragically died or been seriously injured as a result of workplace accidents. The project is based on the Canadian Life Quilt, a memorial dedicated to young men and women who have died or been injured while at work.

In 2009, the Working Women's Centre, SA Unions and the Australian Safe Communities Foundation came together to commence working on a South Australian Life Quilt. Last month the families of those represented on the quilt, along with volunteers, friends, work colleagues and supporters, joined me at the unveiling of the Life Quilt SA. There are 10 families currently represented on the quilt in memorial of the following workplace deaths: Darren Millington, Jack Salvemini, Daniel Madeley, Max Logan, Damian Harris, Matthew Keeley, Sophie Schulz, Brett Schmidt, Brian Murphy and John Posnakidis.

While this project is primarily about commemorating these workplace deaths, it also acknowledges the families and the impacts that these accidents have had on them. The Life Quilt serves as a powerful reminder of the family, social and community impacts of a workplace tragedy. I reiterate my thanks to these families for having the courage to share their stories to help others dealing with such grief and loss. They have also become strong safety advocates in the community, playing an important role in helping to prevent similar tragedies from occurring.

The videos and stories launched at the event will also form part of the Passport to Safety program. Delivered in high schools, the program aims to educate young people about their rights and responsibilities at work. These young people will soon be entering the workplace for the first time, and it is vitally important that they have a sound knowledge of safety in the workplace from the beginning of their working lives. These resources also provide a reminder of the long-term effects that a workplace death or injury has on the families, friends and workmates left behind.

The quilt will be displayed at various events and forums as part of the Passport to Safety program. I also saw it impressively displayed at the International Workers Memorial Day service on Saturday 28 April. At what was a very moving day, several attendees I spoke with remarked at the incredible efforts and work that had gone into the quilt and the strong emotional meaning behind it. When the quilt is not travelling, it will be displayed in the SafeWork SA library as a constant reminder of these lives tragically taken while in the workplace.

More than 70 people were involved in creating the Life Quilt, and I thank each and every one of them for their commitment and dedication to this important cause. I especially thank Ms Sue Morley who has been instrumental in the coordination and development of the Life Quilt project. Ms Morley has been involved in quilting community arts groups since 1997, but this is the first community arts project she has managed. She has successfully promoted the cause and assisted with securing financial and in-kind support from Arts SA, Australian Safe Communities Foundation, Working Women's Centre, SA Unions and Effective Australia.

We all know that one injury or death in the workplace is one too many. It is imperative that we do all we can so that other families do not need to add their loved ones to the quilt. The Life Quilt is a small tribute to those who have been touched by workplace tragedy and a lasting reminder of the importance of workplace safety.

I have organised for the Life Quilt to be displayed in Parliament House this week and I urge all my colleagues to take some time to view the quilt. It will be located on the first level in Centre Hall so that it is accessible to both parliamentarians and members of the public. Some booklets and information about the quilt are also available at the display.

Finally, last week I sent all members of this chamber a copy of a DVD that incorporates some moving tributes to some of those workers on the quilt. I am grateful to those families who courageously shared their stories. Again, I urge all members to take some time to watch that DVD.

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