by Lesley Hames | Apr 5, 2016 | BvonD News |
Don’t overreact or panic! The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety responded to questions in Parliament on 30 March 2016 as follows: Dr JIAN YANG (National) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What reports has he received on reactions to the upcoming health and safety legislation changes? Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety): The new health and safety law coming into force next Monday emphasises that everyone in the workplace is responsible for health and safety, because all workers deserve to go home safely every day. Unfortunately, I have received reports that kids should be banned from climbing trees at school because of this new law. This is patently ludicrous and incorrect. All playground and outdoor education activities possible today will still be possible next week—nothing changes. It is disappointing to see that that sort of fearmongering is being generated about the changes. Dr Jian Yang: Should sports clubs and volunteer organisations be worried about the upcoming changes? Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: In a word, no. Another myth being perpetuated is that sports clubs, voluntary associations, and the like will be wrapped in red tape, resulting in people withdrawing from volunteering or from holding sports events. Again, this is nonsense. The Act adopts exactly the same legal framework that exists in the current law. The Government was clear that the current framework for voluntary associations and sports clubs was managing risk adequately, and transferred it into the new regime. Business should be alert to the new law when it comes into effect, but there is no need for the overreaction on things like tree climbing....
by Lesley Hames | Apr 4, 2016 | Societies and Charities Articles |
Don’t overreact or panic! In response to questions about the new Health and Safety legislation the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety responded to questions in Parliament on 30 March 2016 as follows: Dr JIAN YANG (National) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What reports has he received on reactions to the upcoming health and safety legislation changes? Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety): The new health and safety law coming into force next Monday emphasises that everyone in the workplace is responsible for health and safety, because all workers deserve to go home safely every day. Unfortunately, I have received reports that kids should be banned from climbing trees at school because of this new law. This is patently ludicrous and incorrect. All playground and outdoor education activities possible today will still be possible next week—nothing changes. It is disappointing to see that that sort of fearmongering is being generated about the changes. Dr Jian Yang: Should sports clubs and volunteer organisations be worried about the upcoming changes? Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: In a word, no. Another myth being perpetuated is that sports clubs, voluntary associations, and the like will be wrapped in red tape, resulting in people withdrawing from volunteering or from holding sports events. Again, this is nonsense. The Act adopts exactly the same legal framework that exists in the current law. The Government was clear that the current framework for voluntary associations and sports clubs was managing risk adequately, and transferred it into the new regime. Business should be alert to the new law when it comes into effect, but...
