8 December 2010
Northern Territory businesses, industry and workers are encouraged to get involved and provide comment on the proposed model Work Health and Safety Regulations during the public comment period, which opened today.
NT WorkSafe Acting Executive Director, Mr Brian Malacari, said the public comment period is an opportunity for the Northern Territory to provide input into the model Work Health and Safety Regulations package before they are introduced in 2012.
“Harmonised work health and safety laws will affect all Australian workplaces in varying degrees. It is important that we all provide input during this consultation process to ensure the new laws are relevant to all Northern Territory workers.
“These proposed laws support the aim of NT WorkSafe, which is to influence and achieve
the highest possible outcomes in workplace health and safety,” said Mr Malacari.
Model work health and safety laws will ensure businesses can comply with one set of laws regardless of the number of states or territories in which they operate. This will ease the burden on business owners operating in both the Northern Territory and other jurisdictions by reducing their compliance costs.
Mr Tom Phillips AM, Safe Work Australia Chair, said the harmonisation of work health and safety laws will allow businesses to effectively manage workplace safety, providing greater certainty for employers and enhancing safety protections for workers.
“The safety of all workers is our main priority, the model laws will help to improve workplace safety standards across all industries,” said Mr Phillips.
The suite of documents available for public comment includes an exposure draft of the model Work Health and Safety Regulations, priority model Codes of Practice, and an Issues Paper. A Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement will be released shortly after the commencement of the public comment period. The public comment period will close on 4 April 2011.
NT WorkSafe is organising information sessions on the model regulations that will begin in early 2011. Information sessions will be held in all regional centres and details will be made available shortly at www.worksafe.nt.gov.au.
For more information on the public comment process, visit the Safe Work Australia website at www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au.
Public submissions can be sent to submissions@safeworkaustralia.gov.au.
Media enquiries: Sinead O’Donnell 0401 116 728