Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I will take that interjection. Clearly, Senator Abetz has never visited Queensland north of Mackay and, if he has, I apologise. There is certainly a strong argument in Queensland. Let me recognise from the start that the population of North Queensland has long held views about a range of issues, including the one you talk about. It would be remiss of me if I did not stand up for my state and say that, from my experience, people are proactive on states rights. They also recognise that WA has similarly held views about states rights. As to who would come first in that, a dead heat might be a better term, considering the politicians who are currently in the chamber.

Having said that, the government asks the Senate to politely reconsider the amendments. We have done that in the House, and they are now here in the Senate. It is important to the government that we develop national workplace occupational health and safety arrangements and that we achieve an outcome. It is important that we get Safe Work Australia up and running as early as possible.

It is important that we get the opposition, employers and unions to agree on the necessity for OH&S harmonisation. One of the cornerstones of that, which this government has been pursuing, is to achieve state agreement. I am advised that it has not been an easy process to obtain state agreement on harmonising OH&S, but the underlying rationale for achieving harmonisation is clearly seen by everybody. Having achieved that through the IGA, having that reflected in the Safe Work Australia legislation—the bill that is currently before us—it is important to reflect upon the journey that was taken to get that agreement, to get to the position we are now at, where we have a communique from the ministerial council which recognises that we do need strong, harmonised legislation on OH&S for all the reasons that were argued in the second reading debate and in committee.

We note the amendments that are currently before us. The communique from the Workplace Relations Ministers Council states:

However, Ministers noted with much concern that the amendments threatened the harmonisation of national OHS legislation, thereby delaying a significant and long overdue economic reform which would enhance OHS outcomes, reduce red tape for business and strengthen Australia’s productive capacity.

I do think that they are overarching considerations. Again I ask the Senate to consider those overarching considerations in light of the need to move forward.