23 June 2004
Victorian Trades Hall Council Secretary Leigh Hubbard today launched a campaign website aimed at ensuring the Victorian Government strengthens the OHS Act in their upcoming spring session of Parliament.
Entitled "Getting it right!", the campaign will involve thousands of workplace health and safety reps and ordinary workers emailing the Premier Steve Bracks, Treasurer John Brumby and Workcover Minister Rob Hulls with a list of changes they wish to see made to the act to improve its effectiveness in keeping Victorian workers safe on the job.
"The Maxwell report has some excellent recommendations and with a few additions will, would make for a great OHS Act. The campaign aims to send a clear message to this Government that the time is now. We only have one chance to get it right. This is the first review of the Act since 1985, and it is a great opportunity to make Victoria a leader in health and safety", Mr Hubbard said today.
"We understand that not all workers have access to email so we will also be distributing hard copies of the letter. People can mail them to the relevant ministers. We will also be encouraging reps to simply ring their local Member of Parliament and have a chat with them about their experiences of working with the Act on the job.
With over 140 workplace health and safety reps registered to come to our campaign briefing on Tuesday morning at 8 am, I think we can already see how important our members think this campaign is," Mr Hubbard added.
For comment contact Leigh Hubbard on 0408 936 738
For information about the campaign contact Margot Hoyte on 0413 482 973