
Issue No 103		20 July 2001

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Where's WorkCover? Safety Prosecutions Drop Off

Unions have NSW Industrial Relations Minister John Della Bosca to explain official figures that suggest a massive drop in safety prosecutions over the 12 months to June 2000 from 674 to just 14.

The statistics, in a report to the Occupational Health and Safety and Workers Compensation Advisory Council, gives details of just 14 prosecutions for the year to June 2000.

This compares with 674 prosecutions - 96 per cent of which were successful - in the previous 12 month period.

Labor Council secretary John Robertson has called on the Minister to explain the anomaly, warning that without strong penalties there is little incentive for employers to provide safe workplaces.

"The Occupational Health and Safety Act imposes strong obligations on employers - but we need an activist government authority to ensure those that breach the law are brought to account. The onus rests with the Minister to show that the law is, in fact, being upheld."

Unions are also concerned that scores of prosecutions are lapsing because WorkCover has failed to file actions with in the two-year statutory time period.

Spin Treatment

Further clouding the issue, WorkCover later issued a media release admitting there prosecutions had decreased by one third over the past three years.

WorkCover stated there had been 444 occupational health in the 12 months to June 2001. But it has still failed to clarify the position in respect to 1999-2000.

WorkCover says these figures are down on previous years because of "a fall in the number of workplace injuries".

These accident figures could not be scrutinised by the trade union movement because they are not publicly available

Soft Fine for Teenage Life

Meanwhile, the CFMEU has expressed its outrage at the fine imposed on employer over the death of a 17-year-old apprentice.

The employer was last month fined just $20,000 over the death of 17-year-old Dean McGoldrick, who fell to his death non a Sydney building site.

The CFMEU has asked NSW industrial Relations Minister John Della Bosca for an explanation for the leniency of the penalty.

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Issue 103 contents

Interview: Political Witch Hunt
CFMEU national secretary John Sutton on the mooted Royal Commission and what is really needed to clean up the building industry

E-Change: 1.3 The Nation State in Crisis
In the latest instalment in their study on the new politics, Peter Lewis and Michael Gadiel looks at the rise and fall of the institutional State.

Unions: Industrial Violence
Rowan Cahill agrees with Tony Abbott that thuggery and violence are part of Australian industrial relations landscape - but it's the bosses who do most of the bashing.

History: Total Recoil
Neal Towart looks at how Royal Commissions designed to kick unions have typically come back to haunt their architects.

International: Behind the Eight Ball
Jubilee Australia's Thea Ormond looks at the international activity being generated around this week's Group of Eight Summit in Genoa

Politics: Now We The People
A new group believes there is an alternative to corporate gobalism and economic rationalism

Satire: Marsden Now to Sue Himself
Sydney solicitor John Marsden is suing himself for defamation, claiming the recent libel case he brought did irreparable damage to his reputation.

Review: In The House
Resident Four-Eyes Mark Morey attempts the impossible with this attempt at a serious analysis of Big Brother.

» Survey Shows Majority Support for Unions

» Howard's Union Stooge in Hot Water

» Unions Cash in on Big Brother

» Big Boys Bully Over Della Compo Changes

» Where's WorkCover? Safety Prosecutions Drop Off

» Telstra's Ultimatum: Stay Away From Kim

» Workers Win Stake in New Bank

» Hours Test Case Gets Green Light

» St John of God Workers Pray for Justice

» Five-Star Action From Security Guards

» Howard Plans to Stop the Vote

» Rio Outrage Heads for Court

» Nurses To Fight For Pay

» One Hundred Reasons to Save Aussie Post

» Rail Track Sell-Off Part of Privatisation Push

» Coles Myer Abandons Regional Jobs

» Qld Wage Rise Still Not Enough

» Activists Notebook

» The Soapbox

» The Locker Room

» Trades Hall

» Tool Shed

» Problems with Hunter Decision

» A Lost Cause

» High Farce

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