Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

The Work Choices legislation actually makes it quite clear, by precluding occupational health and safety matters from the legislation, that the legislation of state governments stands and the occupational health and safety legislation that they put in place remains the law. Under state laws employers will continue to be required to meet their health and safety obligation, which includes appropriate training.

I have heard allegations, including some from the next putative Labor leader, Mr Shorten, on the weekend, that somehow trade union officials are prohibited from engaging in occupational or training courses. I have no higher authority that this is false than the member for Lilley, the shadow Treasurer. In an email—from Mike Murphy to Victoria White in the member’s office—Mike Murphy asks this question:

... the impression being given that employers are subject to fines if they send employees to union-run safety training courses—

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