Many of the issues that the panel is considering under its terms of reference are not new. In recent years, they have been debated and examined in reviews of OHS laws in most jurisdictions. The reports to governments on the various reviews include matters that are also relevant for a model OHS law, including the scope and limits of OHS duties, consultation, participation and representation, enforcement and penalties. Employer organisations and unions have also publicised their positions on these issues.
Persons interested in making a submission may find the following reports and documents useful to gain a broader understanding of the nature of the issues and the various views on how they should be addressed, since the panel is also taking into account this information during the review.
The following is a list of resources which may assist in the preparation of a submission. Information regarding the public submission period will be made available shortly.
New South Wales
Report on the Review of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 – May 2006
View the report (258kB)
Victoria
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 Review, Chris Maxwell – March 2004.
Read the review
A report on the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 – Administrative review, Bob Stensholt, December 2007
View the report (2.9MB)
South Australia
Review of Workers Compensation and Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Systems in South Australia, Brian Stanley, December 2002
View the reports:
Volume 1 (577kB)
Volume 2 (635kB)
Volume 3 (598kB)
A Review of the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 – 2007/2008. The closing date for submissions was 31 December 2007.
View the information paper (107kB)
Western Australia
Review of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984, Richard Hooker, December 2006.
Read the report
Tasmania
Review of Workplace Health and Safety in Tasmania, Interim Report – February 2007
Consultation on the Interim Report was completed in August 2007. The final report has not yet been released.
View the report (24kB)
Northern Territory
Review of the NT Work Health Act and Mining Management Act – June 2007
View the report (1.71MB)
Australian Capital Territory
Occupational Health and Safety Act 1989 Scope and Structure Review, Final Report – September 2005
View the report (1.01MB)
Currently Underway
Commonwealth
Review of Self-insurance Arrangements under the Comcare Scheme – Background Information Paper, January 2008
View the information paper (71.5kB)
Website information on the review, including submissions, is available.
View online information
On 11 December 2007 the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, announced a moratorium on new applications from private sector corporations wanting to join the Comcare scheme. The Minister also announced a review of the self-insurance arrangements under the Comcare scheme. Terms of Reference for the review were later released, and interested parties were invited to make submissions to the review. The closing date for submissions was 29 February 2008. The DEEWR report to the Minister is due 31 July 2008.
Inquiries
Industry Commission
Work Health and Safety: An Inquiry into Occupational Health and Safety, 11 September 1995 (Vol 1 & Vol 2)
View the inquiry report
Productivity Commission
National Workers Compensation and Occupational Health and Safety Frameworks, 6 March 2004
View the inquiry report
Mine Safety Reviews
Western Australia
Review of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 – R Laing 2003
Read the review (722kB)
The operation and effectiveness of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 is being reviewed again by Commissioner S J Kenner of the WA Industrial Relations Commission. Submissions closed on 31 January 2008.
Queensland
Review of the Queensland Mines and Quarries Annual Safety Performance and Health Report – 2007
Read the review (350kB)
New South Wales
Review of Mine Safety in New South Wales – 2005
Read the review (257kB)
Reviews in Comparable Jurisdictions
New Zealand
New Zealand Parliament, House of Representatives, Select Committee on Transport and Industrial Relations Report 2002 on the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Bill 2002
View the report (246kB)
Canada
Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan Government is in the process of reviewing its OHS legislation.
Read the review (246kB)
The review has completed 2 out of 3 planned stages and the recently amended legislation is available online.
View the legislation
Alberta
Alberta is in the process of conducting a review of its OHS Code with public consultation occurring in early 2008.
View website information
United Kingdom
In 2007 the Health and Safety Executive completed an inteternational comparison of (a) techniques used by state bodies to obtain compliance with health and safety law and accountability for administrative and criminal offences and (b) sentences for criminal offences.
Read the comparison
Stakeholder OHS Policy Documents
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)
Modern Workplace: Safer Workplace – An Industry Blueprint for Improving OHS in Australia
Read the report (71.4kB)
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
Union Charter of Workplace Rights for OHS and Workers' Compensation
Read the report
Business Council of Australia (BCA)
Making Work Safe – Discussion paper, 4 June 2007
Read the discussion paper