News & Views
Panel Discussion:
A key part of the conference was the opportunity for the reps to hear the different viewpoints of the various 'stakeholders' in OHS on the question of what their organisations considered as 'unfinished business' in terms of occupational health and safety in Victoria. As their organisations often hold very different views of what still needs to be done to improve OHS in this state, the session was sub-titled "Difference of Opinion" .
Moderated by the VTHC's Workers' Compensation Officer, Jarrod Moran, the panel was made up of the following:
- Cathy Butcher, OHS Coordinator, VTHC
- John Darcy, Senior OHS Advisor, Master Builders Association of Victoria (MBAV)
- Peter Rozen, Barrister, Victorian Bar
- Sue Pilkington, Vice President Safety Institute of Australia (SIA), Victorian division
- John Merritt, Executive Director, WorkSafe Victoria
- Karen Batt, Victorian State Secretary, Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU)
The panelists' overhead presentations are attached below. John Merritt, having given one of the key note addresses earlier, participated in the general discussion and, as did the others, took questions from the floor. As usual, there were many more questions than time allowed.
Attachment
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Cathy Butcher - OHS Coordinator, VTHC
For the VTHC and its affiliates, the main areas of 'unfinished business' are Consultation; Protection from discrimination and harassment; and issues related to the consolidation of the Regulations, such as Compliance Codes. [download] -
John Darcy - Senior OHS Advisor, MBAV
John Darcy outlined the main areas of 'unfinished business' for the Master Builders Association of Victoria: Compliance Codes; Employee Representation; and ARREOs (Part 8 of the Act). [download] -
Karen Batt - Victorian State Secretary, CPSU
For members of the CPSU, the main areas of 'unfinished business' are issues that can be defined as psychosocial: Stress, Workload, Work Intensification,Occupational Violence, and Bullying.
[download] -
Peter Rozen - Barrister, Victorian Bar
Peter concentrated on two areas he considered 'unfinished business' - consultation and reps' access to VCAT. [download] -
Sue Pilkington - Safety Institute of Australia
Sue Pilkington listed three areas as 'unfinished business': Compliance Codes; Suitably qualified persons; and the Removal of the requirement to undertake risk assessments. [download]