Workplace safety Bill passes, faces criticism

  • 28/08/2015
Workplace safety Bill passes, faces criticism

The Government's controversial health and safety legislation has passed in Parliament.

It overhauls workplace safety standards, but has attracted criticism.

"I think the real tragedy of this Bill is that everyone agreed what needed to be done and the Government's been playing politics with workers' lives by watering this Bill down," says Jeff Sissons, spokesman for the Council of Trade Unions.

"The last law was an object lesson in how not to implement legislation, so we're upgrading from a pushbike to a car, but it's not a very good car and we were promised a limousine."

The new law overhauls workplace safety standards, but criticism has fallen on what industries have been defined as high or low-risk.

Industries deemed to be high-risk will need to have an elected health and safety representative on site, while for others it is voluntary.

Labour has called the Bill a shambles and says it will be remembered for declaring lavender and worm farming more dangerous than dairy, sheep and beef.

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