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Issue No. 205 | 28 November 2003 |
Australia Deserves Better
Interview: Union for the Dispossessed Unions: Joel's Law National Focus: Spring Carnival Bad Boss: Fina and Fiends Industrial: The Price of War Economics: Who's Got What History: Containing Discontent Review: An Honourable Wally Poetry: The Colours of Discontent
Call Centre Throws Safety Out the Door Miners Tackle Million Dollar Sidestep ACT Rejects Manslaughter Bullying WorkCover Walks Away From Racetrack Contractors Scramble Foxtel Signal
The Soapbox Sport Politics Postcard
A Tale Of Three Cities
Labor Council of NSW |
News ACT Rejects Manslaughter Bullying
The Federal Government attempted to bully the ACT into abandoning the new laws, but community support saw legislation passed with support from minor parties and independents. "For a Federal Government that has paid so much attention to the building industry it's astounding that when an opportunity comes along to do something about workers safety, they drop the bundle," says Andrew Ferguson, NSW Secretary of the CFMEU. "This result in the ACT is an important victory in our national campaign for tougher safety laws and more vigilant compliance. "We will be continuing our campaign in NSW with fresh resolve." ACT Industrial Relations Minister Katy Gallagher says the legislation sends strong signals to workers and employers. "When a worker dies at work, and it's someone else's fault, it's a crime," says Gallagher. "We're supporting workers by placing a value on their safety." Gallagher said critics who say the legislation does nothing for OHS are wrong, as her office had been inundated with industry attempting to get its workplaces up to scratch. "We've had OH&S Legislation for 14 years but it's only with the passage of this Bill that some areas of industry are now getting up to standard," says Gallagher. Gallagher noted that industries with good OH&S systems had nothing to fear from the new laws. Exner's Mates Confront PM Family and friends of Joel Exner, the 16-year-old killed on a Sydney building site last month, lobbied members of the ACT Assembly, helping ensure passage of the bill. "It's something I'll never forget,' Gallagher said. She said the involvement of Joel's mother, Sue, had put a human face to the issue. "I'm sure it was painful for Joel's family to hear people say this legislation was draconian and unnecessary. It was just insulting. "I'm sure it helped the Liberals to behave themselves." "After the bill was passed one 16 year old boy from Doonside came up and didn't say anything, he just shook my hand." "It was really powerful." Exner's family and friends confronted the Prime Minister at Parliament House. Howard attempted to deflect the issue, saying it was the State's problem, but the friends persisted, asking what the Prime Minister was doing personally to address the issue. The Prime Minister failed to respond, with one observer saying he "ran away".
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