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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-06-03 Daily Xml
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Coronavirus, Safe Worksites

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:55): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Treasurer regarding COVID-safe worksites.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Businesses have asked many questions about where they should get information about how they can ensure COVID-safe worksites. Can the Treasurer please advise where they should go to get the best help and advice?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:56): This is an important question for many businesses in South Australia because, as we ease the restrictions and employees come back to work, businesses that perhaps were unable to operate are now able to operate, albeit in a modified or restricted fashion. The challenges for those businesses are in coping and protecting employees and customers from the COVID-19 pandemic but on the other hand also complying with work health and safety laws, which are obviously relevant in our state.

Considerable attention has been drawn to information provided on the Safe Work Australia website in terms of providing advice to industry sectors and various businesses within those industry sectors as a source of information to assist them. Certainly, as the state minister in recent discussions at ministerial teleconferences, we have supported in principle the notion that Safe Work Australia should be a source of information for businesses and employees and also for customers and clients, but it is my strong advice to businesses in South Australia that, whilst looking at the information on the Safe Work Australia website, they also refer to information that is available on the SafeWork South Australia website.

This would apply equally in other state and territory jurisdictions, that they go to the websites of the individual state and territory regulators. There are two simple reasons for that. One is that, whilst there was an attempt to have national uniformity in work health and safety legislation, that did not eventuate. Whilst there is a fair degree of uniformity, even in those jurisdictions like South Australia where we did ensure there was a fair degree of uniformity, there are nevertheless some important distinctions and differences within South Australia that don't apply nationally.

Secondly, the directions that various authorities issue—in our case, it is the coordinator under the Emergency Management Act, the police commissioner—which relate to what is permissible or not permissible during this emergency, also impact on what businesses, employers and employees can or can't do. So it is impossible for Safe Work Australia to be able to be across all those differences and distinctions.

I have recently asked SafeWork South Australia to seek agreement from Safe Work Australia to place on their website a note or a warning to indicate that, whilst they have a large quantity of very useful information for businesses throughout the nation, there are jurisdictional differences and that businesses within a state or a territory should also refer to the appropriate website of the regulator in their state or territory. The member's question is an important question. Businesses are thirsty for information. They don't want to do the wrong thing. They are seeking advice. In relation to worksites, Safe Work Australia is a good source of information, but they must also, on my strong urging, consider the information that is available on the SafeWork SA website as well.

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