Minister Andrews launches Safe Work Australia Week
The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon. Kevin Andrews, officially launched Safe Work Australia Week at a luncheon event held at the Arts Centre in Melbourne yesterday.
More than 50 occupational health and safety (OHS) leaders attended the event to demonstrate their commitment to making Australian workplaces safer.
The event was sponsored by the Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner, and included speeches from last year’s Safe Work Australia Award winner Frank Hulshof of Hardy Wine, and the construction industry’s Michael Loterzo from Grocon Group.
Minister Andrews highlighted the importance of national consistency in OHS and workers’ compensation arrangements and outlined changes to the Government’s building and construction accreditation scheme.
“Every Australian has a right to a safe workplace. This is why we are here together today – to strive to make sure that this happens,” Mr Andrews said.
The chairman of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC), Mr Bill Scales, was the master of ceremonies at the event.
Mr Scales said that the need to be constantly vigilant about safety was met with full support by peak employer and employee industry bodies.
Yesterday’s launch marked the second year that all states and territory OHS agencies have collaborated in the national week to strengthen workplace safety messages across Australia.
A podcast of an interview with Mr Bill Scales, Chairman of the ASCC is available now courtesy of Safety at Work.
Bill Scales (Chairman of the ASCC), Michael Loterzo The Chairman of the Australian Safety and
(General Manager, Legal, Risk and Southern States Operations, Compensation Council Mr Bill Scales speaking
Grocon), Frank Hulshof (Group Human Resource Manager, at the launch
Hardy Wine Company) and the Hon. Kevin Andrews Minister for
Employment and Workplace Relations
Page last updated: 28/09/2008