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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-11-13 Daily Xml
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Parliamentary Committee on Occupational Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation: Annual Report 2018-19

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (16:55): I move:

That the 2018-19 annual report of the committee be noted.

I am pleased to present the report and speak to the noting of the report of the committee's work in that period. In accordance with its legislative obligations the committee continued to monitor existing relevant occupational safety, rehabilitation and compensation legislation throughout the reporting period. In addition, the committee has reviewed the recommendations from and implications associated with several externally conducted inquiries and reviews, including the evaluation of SafeWork SA conducted by the South Australian Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, the Your Voice Survey undertaken by the South Australian Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment, and the public integrity survey undertaken by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption/Office for Public Integrity.

The main focus of the committee during the reporting period, however, was our ongoing inquiry into workplace fatigue and bullying in South Australian hospitals and health services. The inquiry was launched in late 2018, and at the end of the reporting period the committee had received over 60 written submissions and had met with more than 20 witnesses.

Given the scope and complexity of the inquiry, the committee is wanting to ensure that it consults widely and fully understands all of the various issues associated with workplace fatigue and bullying. In this context, the committee agreed in the early stages of the inquiry that a final report was not likely to be completed for at least 12 months. At this stage, the committee is aiming to complete its information collection, including all written submissions and witness hearings, by the end of 2019, with a report to be finalised shortly afterwards.

While it is not appropriate at this stage to provide detailed information about the committee's findings, it should be noted that workplace fatigue and bullying in South Australian hospitals and health services appear to be widespread and serious issues which require urgent attention. That being said, the interconnected nature of the issues at play are likely to mean that the implementation of any recommendations arising from this inquiry will be a time-consuming and complex task that will require the commitment and involvement of a variety of stakeholders.

I would like to thank everybody who took the time to contribute to the work of the committee during the reporting period, including those who gave up their time to make submissions or appear before the committee hearings. I would also like to thank all the members who worked diligently to ensure a balanced approach to the work of the committee. Specifically, my thanks go to my colleagues in this place the Hon. Tammy Franks and the Hon. Tung Ngo. From the other place I would like to thank the member for Morphett and presiding member of the committee, Mr Stephen Patterson; the member for Davenport, Mr Steve Murray; and the member for Taylor, Mr Jon Gee.

Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to the various staff supporting the work of the committee during the reporting period, including Ms Anthea Howard, who worked on her own for a very long period of time while also filling responsibilities as an officer of the House of Assembly. The committee very much appreciated her work in the absence of permanent employees to the committee. Subsequently, however, we have been very pleased to have the services of Mr Simon Macdonald and Mr Eugene Braslavskiy as the officers of the committee. I commend this report to the council and indicate that I will bring it to a vote on the next Wednesday of sitting.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.

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