5611

2008

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

THE SENATE

 

 

 

 

 

Safe Work Australia Bill 2008

 

 

(Amendments to be moved by Senator Abetz on behalf of the Opposition in committee of the whole)

(1)     Page 5 (after line 6), after clause 5, insert:

5A  Objects

                   The objects of the establishment of Safe Work Australia are, through a partnership of governments, employers and employees, to lead and coordinate national efforts to:

                     (a)  prevent workplace death, injury and disease; and

                     (b)  harmonise occupational health and safety laws and associated regulations and codes of practice; and

                     (c)  improve national worker's compensation arrangements.

[objects of Safe Work Australia]

(2)     Clause 28, page 17 (line 24) to page 18 (line 24), subclauses (2) to (5), TO BE OPPOSED .

[direction to alter strategic plan]

(3)     Clause 28, page 19 (lines 1 to 4), subclause 8, TO BE OPPOSED .

[direction to alter strategic plan]

(4)     Clause 30, page 21 (lines 1 to 31), subclauses (2) to (5), TO BE OPPOSED .

[direction to alter operational plan]

(5)     Clause 30, page 22 (lines 8 to 11), subclause (8), TO BE OPPOSED .

[direction to alter operational plan]

(6)     Division 4, clauses 31 and 32, page 23 (line 1) to page 25(line 27), TO BE OPPOSED .

[direction to alter plans]

(7)     Clause 38, page 28 (lines 21 to 29), subclause (2), TO BE OPPOSED .

[votes at meetings]

(8)     Clause 42, page 31 (lines 15 to 29), subclause (2), TO BE OPPOSED .

[decisions without meetings]

(9)     Clause 42, page 31 (line 31), omit “or (2)”.

[decisions without meetings]

(10)   Clause 42, page 32 (line 7), omit “and subparagraph (2)(a)(i)”.

[decisions without meetings]

(11)   Clause 43, page 33 (line 13), omit “any direction”, substitute “certain directions”.

[CEO, staff and functions]

(12)   Clause 45, page 34 (lines 14 to 16), omit paragraph (3)(a).

[limitations on ministerial direction]

(13)   Clause 46, page 35 (lines 1 and 2), omit paragraph (1)(a), substitute:

                     (a)  about the performance of the CEO’s functions but not in relation to operational matters; or

[limitations on ministerial direction]

(14)   Clause 46, page 35 (after line 17), at the end of the clause, add:

             (5)  In this section, operational matters are matters addressed in the strategic and operational plans of Safe Work Australia.

[limitations on ministerial direction]

(15)   Page 45 (after line 9), after clause 67, insert:

67A  Audit committee

             (1)  Safe Work Australia may establish an audit committee.

             (2)  The functions of the audit committee shall be:

                     (a)  to receive reports and request information from the CEO on the Safe Work Australia Special Account and the financial management of Safe Work Australia.

                     (b)  to make recommendations on the financial management of Safe Work Australia.

[audit committee]