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Legislative Assembly
 
Worksafe Legislation Amendment Bill 2017

21 June 2017
Second reading
FRANK McGUIRE  (ALP)

 


Mr McGUIRE (Broadmeadows) — The amendments proposed in this bill are consistent with the government's commitment to protect the physical and mental health of employees in the workplace. The amendments are also consistent with the government's policy of maintaining fair and sustainable WorkSafe schemes. The bill will optimise workplace safety by strengthening WorkSafe's compliance and enforcement tools, ensuring the consequences of health and safety laws act as a sufficient deterrent, and ensuring breaches can be appropriately investigated. It will ensure that injured workers and their family members are entitled to fair and equitable compensation, and improve the workability of the legislation. They are the overarching priorities.

The Andrews Labor government is committed to protecting workers safety at work and upholding safety standards. This legislation boosts WorkSafe's powers by toughening some penalties and giving it more time to prosecute offences in certain circumstances. I want to acknowledge former Premier John Cain, who introduced the WorkSafe scheme back in 1985, and the fact that the Labor Party has been its protector since.

Labor brought back common-law entitlements after they were removed in this place under the Kennett government. Labor commissioned the Hanks review of the legislation and made improvements to benefits and ensured that return to work, a critical part of the scheme, was included in the act. Labor has kept the WorkSafe scheme in a sound financial position. Before the last election Labor committed to using WorkSafe surpluses to improve benefits to injured workers. Last year the Andrews government made changes to ensure that those who suffered from the impact of the federal coalition retirement-age changes will not be left behind if they needed WorkSafe income support.

Now the Andrews government is making more changes to provide new entitlements under workers compensation law to support the families of those affected by serious workplace incidents. The change will allow immediate family members to claim travel and accommodation expenses in certain circumstances. There were also similar changes to transport accident legislation made last year. Now the government is ensuring that those injured or killed at work will have the same support. That is the worst-case scenario being addressed as part of the government's commitment to support those in our community who need it the most. The government is reaffirming in law that casual loadings are included in the calculation of a worker's wage when determining their weekly compensation payments. The government is also making sure that those working in casual jobs are not penalised if they need income support while they recover from injury.

These are the values that underpin the legislation to help WorkSafe Victoria in its mission to return workers safely every day. The government wants to ensure that WorkSafe has the powers it needs to make the important changes in this bill. The commitment to workplace safety is clear and shows in the government's investment in WorkSafe. Labor's pre-election commitment was to ensure that any surpluses accumulated in WorkSafe schemes will be used to support programs to improve the workplace safety and health of the Victorian workforce, including an expanded and well-resourced inspectorate. That has been put in place.

I want to also commend the ministers who have been involved in this, including the Minister for Finance, for the $50 million WorkHealth program, which includes a free interactive online platform that will act as a go-to site for businesses to access the latest advice, research and support on workplace mental health and wellbeing. This is something that is being done in collaboration with the Minister for Mental Health. I think the program is a timely and modern initiative to help people find the right information. WorkHealth also includes a $17 million innovation fund to kickstart new initiatives and expand existing workplace mental health and wellbeing programs.

These are the key propositions within the bill. I know others want to make a contribution so I am happy to yield to give them the opportunity. I commend the bill to the house.