Media Statements - Workplace safety and conditions under threat

19/1/05

Employee safety and working conditions in the Goldfields are under threat from Colin Barnett.

Goldfields-Esperance Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich said a Barnett-led State Government would work with a Federal Government, unrestrained by the Senate, to bring back the dark days of Graham Kierath’s third wave.

The Minister today congratulated the Australian Workers Union on its decision to reopen a fully staffed office in the Goldfields.

Ms Ravlich said the union shared with the Gallop Government a commitment to improving working conditions for Goldfields employees.

“Fair pay, safe workplaces, sensible working hours and fair compensation for injury are vital to Goldfields families,” she said.

“We have shown that economic growth and high employment does not have to come at the cost of conditions and safety, as Colin Barnett and his Coalition claim.

“We have worked hard to undo the previous Coalition government’s worst excesses, but there is still more to be done to ensure safer, more sensible working conditions.”

The Minister said that the Gallop Government’s achievements included:

scrapping the Court Government’s unfair workplace agreements system;

reducing by 25 per cent the number of days lost due to industrial disputes compared with the Court Liberal years;

increasing Western Australia’s minimum wage by almost $100 a week (a 33 per cent increase on the hourly rate) and improved other minimum conditions of employment;

improving the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Mines Safety Inspection Act with maximum penalties for unsafe workplaces significantly toughened and a system of Provisional Improvement Notices introduced;

increasing the number of WorkSafe inspectors by 25 per cent;

adding $130million in the first year in additional benefits under the reformed Workers’ Compensation System;

moving to establish a new State-wide code of practice to regulate working hours;

providing greater opportunities for workers in the booming WA economy, now growing at 7.5 per cent per annum - the fastest growth rate in Australia; and

creating 80,000 new jobs and reducing unemployment to a record low of 4.4 per cent, the lowest rate in Australia.

Minister's office: 9213 6500