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Keneally should act on building site safety
Friday 28 May 2010
Commenting on the two serious building site accidents this week, Greens MP and industrial spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on Premier Kristina Keneally to work with unions to strengthen workplace safety standards and to ensure the national occupational health and safety harmonisation plan improves safety and does not leave workers worse off.
SMH 'Another accident on CBD building site'.
"More stringent regulation of building sites is needed and this issue warrants the attention and support of the Premier," Ms Rhiannon said.
"There have been at least two serious building site accidents this year in Sydney, and last year a 12 storey scaffold collapsed in the CBD, trapping a worker and injuring three pedestrians.
"These incidents serve as a wake up call to the NSW government to stand up to Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard's Work Health and Safety proposal that, if introduced, would downgrade job safety in NSW.
"The ACTU has criticised the Gillard plan and it is time the Keneally government publicly backed the peak union body on this issue.
"Premier Keneally should be working closely with unions in the coming months to establish strong worksite safety measures. With the prospect of a NSW Coalition government being elected in 2011 this should be a priority for Labor.
"Right now unions and their peak bodies have been sidelined in this rush by the federal and state Labor governments to sign off on their harmonisation plan.
"This is the Premier's opportunity to provide national leadership
in the face of Minister Gillard's watering down plans.
"The Greens are not against attempts to bring consistency to the many occupational health and safety laws and regulations across the different states and territories, but the aim always has to be to raise standards, not to leave workers worse off.
"Existing occupational health and safety laws have come about through the struggle and sacrifice of working people over many decades.
"No one has the right to water down these conditions," Ms Rhiannon said.
Contact: Greens MP Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568
