NSW reps wait to join OHS discussions

NSW representatives have been directed to wait for a commitment from the ASCC that today's harmonisation talks will be subject to four principles outlined at the 18 May COAG meeting before joining in the discussions.

Minister John Della Bosca asked the reps to pull out of the negotiations about national OHS laws yesterday when he expressed concern over handing responsibility for safety to the federal government, saying: "NSW will not participate in a race to the bottom on workplace safety."

Della Bosca's spokesperson, Andrew Plumley told Safety Solutions that the Minister doesn't want to see workplace safety treated in the same manner as industrial relations, using the recent Work Choices legislation as an example.

"The Minister believes it is very important we don't hand workplace safety to a bunch of pointy-headed economists. It's a life and death situation," Plumley said.

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Kevin Andrews responded immediately, accusing NSW of abandoning consistency and fairness for OHS and workers compensation.

"The NSW government has today demonstrated that it does not care about achieving national consistency and fairness in occupational health and safety and workers compensation laws.

"NSW has abandoned not only the ASCC, it has also reneged on its commitment to the COAG decision of February this year," Andrews said.

The February decision the Minister referred to saw state and federal representatives agree to develop strategies to improve the development and update of national OHS standards and to identify priority areas in principle OHS Acts that should be harmonised.

But Della Bosca maintains the meeting on 18 May agreed the harmonisation negotiations would proceed subject to four principles:

• A tripartite approach between government, unions and employers.
• A recognition of compliance efforts required to ensure increased consistency is enforced.
• Resource implications for regulators.
• An assurance that existing protections would not be reduced.

Della Bosca asked NSW representatives to stay out of the opening day of negotiations following a decision by Andrews to "dump" these principles from the meeting's agenda.

Plumley said the ASCC had been informed that NSW would be happy to attend day two of the talks, provided the discussions were subject to the four principles in question.

Wendy Cramer, Editor